Meet Victoria Barrera

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Barrera.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Back in Chicago, where I grew up, two of my Uncles are artists and provided me with art supplies throughout my childhood. I went to the Art Institute of Chicago, galleries, and art shows regularly with my family, but I never really thought about how that would influence me down the road. Art was always a part of my life and it was natural for me to keep it integrated in my studies throughout High School and College. I graduated with a double major in Political Science and Fine Art, tacking on a degree in Art as an afterthought. My original “safe” plan was to go to law school next. To my family’s surprise and mine as well, I pursued a Masters in Fine Arts instead and began my journey as a painter.

Has it been a smooth road?
Postgraduate school, I moved to New Orleans for a year with the assumption that life as an artist in the real world would be like my own fairytale. I romanticized this new chapter in life and looked forward to being an artist in a city rich in culture to feed my creative energy. At some point along the way, after several rejections in finding a day job, I let the negativity consume me and I felt like a complete failure. This cloud over my head made me feel like I was making zero advances and I failed to see all of the great work I was doing and how much I was growing as an artist and a person. I had my first solo show that year, landed a job as an art teacher and made plans to move to Los Angeles. New Orleans will always be one of my favorite cities and I am thankful for the lessons I learned there. The perseverance, drive and discipline I applied to my work has given me a strong foundation to build from here in Los Angeles.

Please tell us more about your art.
I paint invented landscapes influenced by my environment living in Southern California that allow me to create a space of my own. These painted environments inhabit all of my strengths, weaknesses, and insecurities. Making a painting is like exploring a new place where I become receptive to new information that in turn guides me through the creation process. For me, the best part about making art is learning that it’s okay to make mistakes and instead incorporating them into the overall composition. These “flaws” end up making the piece whole and successful. In this way, the process of my painting is a microcosm for my life.

I start a painting with loose strokes that mimic either the ocean or mountains. These initial marks help decide the next passages in a painting. I paint, erase, bring back, and alter colors. These decisions are made with careful consideration to each individual painting’s needs. The process is what keeps me going, and I rely on painting to teach me more about myself.

I have a solo show currently on display through August 29th at Jay Etkin Gallery in Memphis, TN where my current series that explores California landscapes, “California,”  will be available for purchase. Myself and the Gallery will be sharing photos of the work through instagram to share this body of work virtually as we continue to limit social interactions due to the pandemic. You can contact Jay Etkin via instagram @etkinart for inquiries and additional information, and follow me @victoribar to see additional images of the exhibit.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I really enjoy how diverse Los Angeles is and how there are so many different neighborhoods to explore! We are also driving distance to every type of terrain, and the weather makes this city easy to fall in love with.

The traffic is not the best, especially with how spread out the city is. It can be draining sitting in your car for long periods of time, but on the plus side, I don’t mind the view during sunset while stuck in traffic. When I’m at a complete stop, I am most likely snapping pictures of the sky and/or mountains in the distance. The overall environment really impacts the colors I use in my paintings.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.victoriabarr.com/
• Email: victoriabarrart@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriabar/

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.