COLOUR
FIELDS
ART -WORN
COLOUR FIELDS is an image story that follows paintings off the conventional canvas and onto the human body, drawing inspiration from art movements from the mid 1900s like Colour Fields and Neo-Expressionism. These movements celebrated the intricacies of conceptual depth over traditional art styles and methods, embracing the world of abstract expressionism.
This work features original artworks, adaptations and prints by Victoria. In the lives of all, art functions as an adornment, and Victoria’s goal is to honor the crucial and impactful bond between people and art in the contemporary world.
Original artwork on calico
Original artwork on calico Shoes - Rick Owens
Original artwork by Victoria Williams Printed onto Fabric
Original artwork by Victoria Williams Inspired by the works of Yrjo Eldelmann
Original artwork by Victoria Williams
ART and its many LAYERS The colour palette I’ve used since I took it from my highschool visual arts classroom. When the dried paint is chipped away all of its pretty layers are revealed.
MUSONGA
Is there a place that has had the most influence on your work? I guess it’s Canberra, where I grew up - it’s a very unique place, it’s a super quiet and boring city as well. I guess the energy there, especially for creatives, is like build with what you have and it’s very DIY culture. - if you don’t have a canvas, find the closest substitute, if you don’t have a colour, how can you make it? It’s made me a very resourceful person and visual artist.
It was in a gallery I had always dreamed of presenting in since I was 15/16, I never thought I’d be there. (I thought maybe) if I get there I’ll be in my 30s, super established or whatever else – they reached out to me when I was 17 or 18 and asked me to do a show there, it was this time where, in real time I’m seeing one of my furthest dreams ever just come true.
And I think that will always be my practice no matter where I go, which city I’m in - okay what are the resources? what do I have to work with? - it ends up being more than enough.
And I had the opportunity to present in my home city for the first time in front of friends and family - in a way it kind of signified, you can make your dreams a reality if you work hard enough for it.
At this time, what is your favourite body of work?
So that’s a painting that I’ve kept from that show, probably one that I’d never sell, probably one I’d want to hold it for, if I get to that point, one of the big galleries in the world and gift it to them - (to show) this is my journey to a tee.
That was a painting called “Black Boy Fly”, it was for my last solo exhibition. It was the title piece, the statement one.
MBOGO
“Black Boy Fly”, 2019. (Courtesy of the artist)
How do you feel that sharing your art has helped you connect with people and communities? Probably in the best ways imaginable. I guess through it I get to meet a lot of kids who are just like me, maybe they were interested in visual art but never thought they could pursue it ‘cause it wasn’t recognisable. A lot of the stories I talk about are stories that are true to me and to my experience and it’s really cool because you end up meeting so many people of different walks of life that have a shared experience. I guess I’m creating, in addition to art, safe spaces for people like myself. By default I’m meeting the people I’m meant to.
What was a moment where someone said something about your art that really stuck with you ? Great question, very recent one. A close friend of mine, we were just talking, “they say that your creative journey reflects the intent of your heart -
“-they say that your
creative journey reflects the intent of your heart” - I guess the way you authentically are and your true self is what people are seeing and that’s what they’re gravitating towards - your journey will always look how it’s supposed to. That really stuck with me - as long as I’m staying true to myself, it means I’m going the right way.
What motivated your art style? So I think what inspired me, particularly, was the very famous visual artist — Jean-Michel Basquiat. Reason being at the time I had always been passionate about art and wanted to pursue it but I never felt like the art was recognisable or it appealed to me or made sense - and I guess through a mutual friend they introduced me to Basquiat’s work and it just made sense - he was telling a story in a way that I could resonate with - I think naturally that’s what I gravitated toward. It’s very much a journey of me finding my own style - taking what I know, what I recognise, and along the way learning more about who I am and developing - hopefully taking it somewhere that is a true reflection of me but also where I’ve started from. How do you feel making art and sharing art has impacted your relationship with yourself? Art itself is a very therapeutic process, it is looking inwards a lot of the time and looking at who you are, really just evaluating your character. I think the benefit of that - for me personally is -
“-each exhibition or painting I do is a timestamp of the person I was at that point” It’s a very reflective process I can look at a show and say this how I was then, this is how I am now, this is the person I am today. I guess it’s quite a forgiving process it’s also a very reflective one. Essentially I guess above all a very accepting one - you accept yourself for who you are at that point in time because it might change but it’s like this is who I am now and I’m happy with it - and this is how I get to share It with others.
shot, styled, edited and directed by Victoria Jean Williams ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Models Chelsea Williams Claire Eyaru Kait Innis Hailey Ludick Hair and Makeup Charlotte Montil Shoot Assistantance Dillon Fernando Lili Ramundi Martha Mills Maddie McCormick Artist Musonga Mbogo Hake House, Dee Why
Victoria Jean Williams (Tori) is a Sydney-based artist who aims to capture optimism through photography, styling and art. Victoria’s message is expressed with a bright colour palette and deep contrast. Her work through visual craft aims to bring people together in familiarity.
@victoriajeanwilliams victoriajeanwilliams.com © all rights reserved
TITLE NO. BY
COLOUR FIELDS 01 VICTORIA JEAN WILLIAMS