about
justine lotus considers herself a disciple in the art of ink, touch, and presence. She explores painting, therapeutic massage, and various other meditative practices to deepen her awareness and guide others on a similar path. Based in Barcelona, she also spends time in India, where she immerses herself in spiritual practices and offers transformative workshops and retreats in return. Her artwork is currently available directly through her and on Saatchi Art.
· Biography
justine lotus, previously known as Petz Scholtus, was born in Luxembourg in 1980. From the family farm she went to London to study art and design at Camberwell School of Arts and at Goldsmiths College (BA Hons). From London she moved to Barcelona in 2004, where she enjoyed working as a sustainable designer and entrepreneur for many years.
Early on she was invited to America Sanchez’ Club del Dibujo where her passion for drawing was reignited. She started to dedicate more and more time to drawing, but it wasn’t until she entered Cesar Manrique’s museum workshop in Lanzarote in 2018 that it struck her: painting is what she is meant to be doing.
In 2020, thanks to a pandemic and an ill body, Scholtus underwent a kind of personal and professional metamorphosis. A name change gave her the necessary energy to shed old beliefs and embrace a new found liberation and empowerment to live life as an artist and massage therapist.
justine lotus currently has her workshop in Barcelona, where she mostly works with Chinese ink and paper. Her work is influenced by different forms of meditation and the study of sumi-e (Chinese ink wash painting) under the guidance of Maria Eugenia Manrique. Becoming a student of Muditosan to learn the Essence of Touch, a Conscious Touch massage technique based on Osho’s teachings, is further shifting her work and finally opened the door to the abstract.
She loves to receive guests at her workshop in Barcelona as well as connect with people through the art of Conscious Touch & Reiki massages.
· Artist statement
The old me, Petz Scholtus the eco designer, was on a mission to save the world and to convince others to do the same: stop mass extinction, save natural habitats, protect wildlife, upcycle, consume less. My energy at that time was mostly turned outwards and so I didn't realise that I needed to save myself first. Becoming justine lotus was a necessary step into this direction.
I believe we can help others and the planet only when we understand and love ourselves. This insight is now the driver of my art practice; to share the beauty I am now able to see in life, to spread the tools that helped me and others, to raise our consciousness beyond fear-inducing news and an illusionary happiness based on money, and connect to our higher selves, one moment at a time. I love to ask uncomfortable questions and connect with others who share the same challenge. My personal story becomes theirs and theirs becomes mine. I am fascinated by our human nature and love to explore it through art, as well as share my insights with others. I hope that my art pieces serve as reminders that we are human; that we are all one, and that being alive here and now is quite the miracle.
· Shows
Present Moments
Solo exhibition
June-July 2024
Centre Cívic Cotxeres Borrell, Barcelona
Roses a Santlluc
Group exhibition
April 2024
Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc, Barcelona
Never Give up, Homenatge a la Cecília
Group exhibition & fundraiser for Fundación Fero
March 2023
Barcelona and online
2022 Art Prize by Fundación Vila Casas
Group exhibition of the 30 finalist
Summer 2022
Museum Can Framis, Barcelona,
Songs to watch
Group exhibition
Winter 2021
Atelier Güell, Barcelona
Into the wild
Finalist of the competition by The Artist Lounge, UK
2021
Online exhibition and printed in Art Magazine
Colors de la Tardor
Group exhibition
Autumn 2021
Nauart, Barcelona
Miradas 20/20
Group exhibition of the finalist of the international competition
by Fundación Matilde Tamayo
Spring 2020
Barcelona
· Press
RTL Lëtzebeurg
Justine Lotus: "Dass Leit wéi de Miró hei gezeechent hunn, inspiréiert mech"
TV report in Luxembourgish by Valentine Patry, April 2024