Victoria Brown’s return to art-making started with what she calls “the shortest retirement ever.” Just two weeks after retiring, she realized she needed creative work to fill her time. Now, she is pursuing a BFA in sculpture at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, building on her previous studies in fibers at Arizona State University.
Victoria describes herself as a “social artist.” Her work is fueled by current events and social issues, turning the tensions of modern life into tactile, fiber-based sculptures. Currently, she is focused on an exhibition about women’s rights and bodily autonomy. “A lot of times I’ll start with just one thing, and it’ll just kind of blow up out of it,” she says, describing an organic process where a single experiment—like weaving denim through metal mesh—can spark an entire composition.
She often uses humor and irony to tackle these heavy themes. By including playful details like stuffed objects or old-fashioned carnival shooting gallery targets, she makes her feminist commentary more approachable. “I think that’s kind of a way to attract people,” she explains. “They’ll look at it more, and they won’t feel so intimidated.” The targets, however, carry a serious message about the current political climate: “We feel like we’re targets right now.”
During her residency at Azule, Victoria worked on eight different pieces for her upcoming show. She also took the time to experiment with new techniques, like hand-felting hats for the first time. Conversations with Azule’s host, Camille, pushed her to think bigger; a simple jacket-back design she was working on began to evolve into a larger piece of activist art.
For Victoria, the residency was defined by the inspiration she found in both the people and the landscape. “Camille is such a wonderful host and she’s so fascinating to get to know and talk to,” she says. “She gives me so many ideas.” Between those conversations and the quiet of the studio, Victoria found exactly what she needed. “What could be better than sitting here and looking out at this fantastic view?”