We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Victoria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My BFA capstone project, titled “The Body is Only a Vessel,” holds a deep personal significance for me as the most meaningful endeavor I have undertaken. Exploring the sensitive topic of death, the process of creating these photographs added profound meaning to the project. In portraying funeral homes as art installations, where the staff act as curators behind the scenes, I initially approached the subject with a hint of cynicism toward the funeral industry and the capitalist undertones it presents. Having had limited exposure to death and loss, my perception of funerals was primarily shaped by movies and television, which seemed to sanitize the reality of death.

However, a pivotal moment occurred during the project when my aunt in Brazil passed away, leaving me feeling alienated from my family’s collective mourning experience. This personal loss served as a turning point, prompting a shift within me as I confronted my own grief. It was during this time that I came across the book “From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death” by Caitlin Doughty, which offered a perspective on funerals as significant social rituals that provide closure to the living. This project profoundly transformed my perception not only of the funeral industry but also of death and grief itself.”

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

I am a fine art photographer based in Utah, driven by a lifelong passion for capturing moments through photography. From an early age, I found myself staging scenes, using various cameras to document everything around me. Presently, my focus revolves around exploring the essence of place, delving into landscapes, interiors, exteriors, and suburbs.

Growing up in Brazil and immersing myself in American culture through media and the internet at an early age, I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of culture and society, especially the nuances that make up the connections and similarities between different cultures. Studying sociology during my time at Utah State University further enriched my perspective on the world and fueled my passion for documenting it. This curiosity and documentary approach shape my work, and after completing my thesis and graduating, I find myself embracing a romanticized view of life, eagerly anticipating how it will influence my future artistic endeavors.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As an artist, I had to unlearn the pressure of having a thesis or topic in mind early in the creative process. I realized that forcing myself to come up with a concept stifled my creativity. With my senior thesis, I was hard on myself when I couldn’t answer what was driving me to want to photograph funeral homes. it was fascinating to me but I wasn’t sure why or what I wanted to accomplish with the project. For some artists, answers to those questions come naturally, for me, I was 8 months into photographing for this project when I was able to come up with a statement that was true to what the work was about.

I learned to allow the work to dictate its direction, listen to my intuition, and allow myself time to explore. This shift led to more authentic and meaningful art, emphasizing the importance of embracing uncertainty and honoring the natural flow of creativity.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the ability of photography to allow me to express myself in a universal language of images. Photography transcends barriers of culture, language, and background, connecting people through the power of pixels. It provides a unique platform for storytelling and self-expression, where a single photograph can evoke emotions, spark conversations, and convey messages without the need for words.

What makes it even more remarkable is the democratic nature of photography, easily accessible to a global audience through the internet. This accessibility enables me to share my perspective, experiences, and ideas with a wide range of people, fostering connections and dialogue across diverse communities. It is this profound ability to communicate and connect through visual storytelling that makes being an artist or creative so deeply rewarding to me.     

Contact Info:

• Website: victoriajohnson.art
• Instagram: vic.tiff
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriajohnson5/

Image Credits
images taken by Victoria Johnson