Meet Victoria Dugger | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Victoria Dugger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Living a disabled life I think prepared me a lot for being an artist. You have to be creative to be disabled. The world isn’t neccessarily built to accomodate people like myself so there were challenges that I had to really overcome. Even if they were simple obstacles like navigating a route to class that worked for me or more complex situations like advocating for myself in the workplace. I have found that being creative and becoming an artist was something that was truly authentic to my lived experience.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artwork is definitely an extension of myself. It is deeply personal but at the same time I think it is reflective of the human experience that we all go through. I think my work also has a playfulness that is really important to me. I want my work to be complex, something that is enjoyable as well as thought provoking. My work is centered around my identity, personal history, disability, and girlhood. My work shares the playful aspect of the human condition. The goal of my work is to bring complexity and empathy to these “stereotypes.”

I am very excited about my career moving forward, I have had some amazing opportunities this far and I am just so motivated about the future and where my work will take me. It hasn’t always been easy, especially as a disabled person. There are definitely unique obstacles that I have had to deal with as an artist but I believe that’s what makes my art the most authentic. I’ve had to learn a lot of lessons along the way, growing as a person as well as an artist. I don’t think you can truly separate the two. Accepting myself and my story was the most challenging but beautiful experience in my life. Finally accepting myself was a true turning point in my growth as a person and that definitely influenced my work to be more truthful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take them to the Botanical Gardens! Its such a beautiful oasis and I think its one of the best places to see and experience in the city. After that I think a trip to the High Museum of Art to check out any new shows that are up or catch a show at the Shakespeare Tavern!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to my wonderful family for always supporting and believing in me. I also want to shoutout South Arts for giving me the incredible opportunity as the 2023 Southern Prize Winner and Georgia State Fellow and allowing me to share may artwork and story with the greater Southeast.

Website: http://www.victoriadugger.studio

Instagram: victoria.dugger.studio

Image Credits
Courtesy of Sargent’s Daughters