SOLO

exhibition

“To be an artist is to be a mirror, a reflection of what is around us.”

Victoria May is a 22-year-old emerging artist living in the Chicagoland Area of Illinois, in the United States of America. Throughout her life she always took an interest in drawing and art in general. Art classes would go on to become one of her best subjects throughout her school years. Her art skills were stunted, however, for about 7 years due to receiving a Catholic education.

Serenity In Music shows where I find peace and comfort. In the simple act of listening to music.

Private Catholic schools generally have small underfunded and nonexistent art departments. Although her art teacher was supportive and encouraging, the curriculum being taught was geared for younger children.

Lakefront Impression

Oil

$1,000

Lakefront Impression is an impressionistic landscape showing the simplicity of natures beauty.

At her Catholic high school, they had 2 art classes only for seniors and taught by a Benedictine monk. Not the best choice for an incoming freshman interested in art. It would only change when due to severe mental health issues sophomore year, Victoria transferred to a public high school. She took 2-D and 3-D art and design and a digital arts class. In that time, she developed not only general techniques but also a deep love of all forms of art. She went on to get her GED and attend College of DuPage and their amazing art program. There she learned from great teachers who helped her art grow and flourish.

“Art is meant to be perceived, you would never hoard a song or a film. So why are there so many beautiful pieces of art in the private homes of the 1%?”

From childhood to her receiving a GED and attending College of DuPage, her personal life was hellish. Victoria suffered from severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, and a psychosis due to depression.

When Victoria switched to public education, she met some amazing friends that would come to support her in ways her family never did. One way of specific support was helping the realization of her sexuality, her bisexuality to be exact. Today however, is thankfully incredibly different. Victoria no longer suffers from depression, anxiety or a psychosis, although they could return given the right circumstances. Her parents stopped being abusive and are learning better stress coping skills every day. She also has found incredible doctors who treat and believe her physical ailments and pain.

Bullied from grade school through high school by her peers for many things but especially her weight, gothic punk looks and interests, from a young age she had suffered from a physical disability and a plethora of other physical health issues.

“Art is irreplaceable. It is a crucial way to connect with and to understand one another. It breaks down language and life barriers. To live as another is impossible but to see through the eyes of another is not.”

Victoria’s physical health issues were ignored, dangerously untreated and were consistently gaslighted by doctors for years saying she only did it for attention, to be out of school or because she was overweight. On top of that, she had abusive parents and an abusive older sibling at home. Which was like driving a car through an area without gravity, never knowing what is going to happen.