Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Victoria J. Fry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Victoria J., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Since launching my company, Visionary Art Collective, I’ve dreamed about curating an in-person exhibition. For three years we’ve successfully facilitated a wide range of virtual exhibitions, featuring artists from all over the world. This April we had the pleasure of putting together our first in-person show in New York City, highlighting the work of six contemporary women painters. This project was deeply meaningful on so many levels. Titled “The Lens Through Which We See,” our exhibition features work by artists who interpret the natural environment in their own unique ways. This project, which took about seven months from planning to completion, culminated in a beautiful and sincere display of paintings that felt layered and nuanced. Presenting this exhibit in New York City was special to me as I lived here in my late teens and early twenties, and returned about two years ago. Overall, it was an incredible experience and one that I will always remember.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I consider myself to be multi passionate, as I’m a New York City-based painter, educator, curator and the founder of Visionary Art Collective. I launched Visionary Art Collective (VAC) in 2020 at the start of the pandemic to provide artists with opportunities and resources. What initially began as a blog that I had been writing for months prior, quickly turned into a global contemporary art and artist development company. VAC was born out of a genuine desire to connect with fellow creatives, as I often felt isolated in my own journey as an artist. Upon launching my company, I developed a fast-growing digital library of free downloadable resources and partnered up with curators and gallerists to present virtual exhibitions when many brick and mortar galleries closed their doors. In three years we have presented nearly twenty virtual exhibitions and one in-person exhibition.

Additionally, I began mentoring emerging artists to help them navigate the art world and build successful careers. Our mentorship programs have been incredibly successful and I’ve worked with over 200 artists since we started. We also have a podcast, magazine, and book club, where we share the stories of creative individuals from around the world. Although my company has many different branches, our core mission is to support creatives while cultivating community and connection.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Community and connection are essential! As artists, we often spend a lot of time alone creating. While this is important, we also need to interact and build relationships with fellow creatives. I truly believe we are stronger together, and therefore I encourage artists to join in-person and virtual art communities. Theres tremendous value in connecting with other like-minded individuals and sharing about our hopes, dreams, and struggles. Since joining and building my own communities over the past few years, I have experienced the power of partnership and collaboration, both of which have changed my life on many levels.

I also think it’s imperative that we support each other by sharing resources, knowledge, and information. Beth Pickens talks about this in her book, “Make Your Art No Matter What.” I’m a huge advocate for community over competition.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is having an outlet to process my ideas, dreams and thoughts. Once we create something and share it with the world, we often attract people who connect with our creations as well. That’s the true beauty of the creative process. I often think about paintings that have profoundly impacted me after viewing them. Sometimes we view a work of art that changes us, and there’s tremendous power in that. As an artist, I strive to create work that feels meaningful to me, and it’s exciting when others connect with it on a personal level.     

Contact Info:

• Website: visionaryartcollective.com
• Instagram: @victoriajfry + @visionaryartcollective

Image Credits
Paul Isgard