Community Highlights: Meet V. Kottavei Williams of Artist Residency Atlas

Today we’d like to introduce you to V. Kottavei Williams.

Hi V. Kottavei, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a free-spirited, multidisciplinary creative with a lifelong passion for art in all forms and formats. I’m also an introvert! I attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, where I studied visual arts, then earned a B.F.A. in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by an M.A. in Art Education from Kennesaw State University.

My career has allowed me to teach both art and fashion professionally, including a period teaching art through the Peace Corps in Ghana. Traveling internationally as an educator deepened my desire to share knowledge, experience new cultures, and engage more fully with the global creative community. I’ve since been to over 35 countries and counting.

After returning to the U.S., I built careers across product design, art education, costume design, quilting, fashion design, and eventually returned to my fine arts roots. For the past 15 years, I have taught high school art, fashion design, and costume design, helping cultivate the next generation of creatives. As I often say: “I don’t teach creativity — I excavate it.”

Beyond my professional work, I am a mom-preneur and mother to five remarkable sons, ages 18–26 — including two sets of twins and a middle child — and, more recently, two wonderful daughters-in-love. They are my greatest inspiration and the reason behind everything I build, create, and pursue. They are my why.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Trying to work, provide for my family, raise five spirited sons as a single mother, and maintain an art career was an enormous challenge. There were many times I wanted to paint, sew, or create, but parenting had to come first. I wanted art supplies, yet running shoes for my young athletes were the priority.

Those realities pushed me to become deeply resourceful, experimental, and creative with the materials I had. I’ve sat on artist panels with my younger twins beside me at two or three years old because my choices were simple: bring them or miss the opportunity. I chose to show up for myself while still showing up fully as a parent.

I was raising actual children alongside my spiritual child — my art. And somehow, both required nurturing, sacrifice, patience, and resilience. I am also an introvert so at times I have to push through socially then recover!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Artist Residency Atlas?
I technically have TWO businesses. My fine arts & published books are found at www.kottavei.com. As a longtime artist and passionate multi-disciplinary creative, I recognized a gap in the artist residency world and decided to build the resource I wished existed. The Artist Residency Atlas App — A(u)RA for short — is designed to become the most comprehensive, curated artist residency database in the world. It will be launching at the end of May 2026.

From a branding perspective, I created something for myself first: a tool rooted in lived experience. Having been accepted to more than six artist residencies internationally, I understand firsthand how transformative these opportunities can be. My goal is to make that world more accessible to all creatives — including visual artists, culinary artists, musicians, dancers, writers, and beyond.

In addition to paid monthly or annual access to the residency database, A(u)RA will offer consultation and application support services to help artists present stronger submissions and improve their chances of acceptance.

More than a platform, A(u)RA is built around possibility, expansion, and creative freedom.

My slogan — and current life motto — is:

“No ceilings. No floors. No walls. No box. Just the world.”

artistresidencyatlas.com

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the vibrancy, energy, and inspiration that Atlanta offers. Every moment feels like an opportunity to discover, explore, and create something new where possibility exists. The city’s abundance of arts programming is incredible, and I immerse myself in as much of it as my time allows. The sheer quantity of beautiful murals that beautify the city makes driving around very enjoyable.

What I appreciate less is the care and investment in infrastructure. I believe the city could do more to support the quality of life for full-time residents, not only when major events or visitors come through. As someone who lives and moves through the city daily, I’ve experienced that firsthand — including losing more tires than I’d like to count on Atlanta’s roads.

Contact Info:

• Website: artistresidencyatlas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistresidencyatlas/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Artistresidencyatlas/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kottaveiinflux
• Other: https://substack.com/@artistresidencyatlas