Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Dugger
Hi Victoria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Columbus,Georgia, and that environment shaped so much of how I see the world. It’s also where I went to college. My family moved there from Louisiana, where at the age of three I was paralyzed from the waist down during a scoliosis corrective surgery. The South has a certain duality to it—a mix of beauty and tension, tradition and resistance—that deeply influences my work. Being a disabled Black woman in that space gave me a unique perspective, though it wasn’t always easy to navigate.
When I went to college at Columbus State University, it was a turning point. It was the first time I realized how different my experiences were from many of the people around me. That could feel isolating at times, but it also pushed me to embrace my voice and explore the themes that are central to my work: identity, transformation, beauty, and complexity.
Those years taught me how to take the things that had shaped me—my upbringing, my experiences, my culture—and channel them into my art and writing. It was a challenging but defining time that laid the foundation for the creative path that I’m on now.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I think any creative path comes with challenges, but for me, there were added layers to navigate. Growing up disabled especially. I was often in spaces where I felt unseen or misunderstood. That sense of isolation and perspective followed me into adulthood, especially when I started making work about myself.
It was difficult for my family especially at the time of my injury but my parents and my siblings truly pulled together to care and support me. I only felt different outside of our home. Growing up disabled and through adolescence was often tricky and uncomfortable for me but girlhood was/is brutal for everyone in a sense. Going into adulthood and college I felt the pull to make personal work and of unlearning self-doubt and giving myself permission to take up space, even when it feels uncomfortable.
But those challenges have also shaped my work in powerful ways. They’ve given me a deeper understanding of the themes I explore—identity, transformation, and ambivalence—and a drive to create work that feels authentic, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into expectations of the kind of work I should make or who I am as a person.. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is rooted in storytelling. I explore themes like humor, identity, isolation, metamorphosis, and beauty, often drawing from my experiences as a disabled Black woman from the South. I create layered, intricate pieces—whether that’s through painting, drawings, or sculptures, that have nuanced narratives.
What sets my work apart perhaps is the way I approach themes with ambivalence, embracing complexity rather than trying to resolve it. My art often combines vivid colors, patterns, and anthropomorphic figures that reflect ideas of transformation, girlhood, and fragility. Through these, I challenge traditional ideas of disability, femininity, and Blackness, hopefully creating space for multiple interpretations.
I’m most proud of how my work has resonated with people who see themselves in it, even in unexpected ways. Knowing that I’ve sparked a connection or a conversation means everything to me. What drives me is this commitment to making art that feels playful, deeply personal and empathetic but also universal, with room for others to bring their own meaning into it.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Definitely when I was 6/7 years old, I became a Make-A-Wish kid. It was truly such a beautiful experience and it’s such a wonderful organization for kids and their families. I ultimately chose for me and my family to go to Disney World and it was such a magical trip for our family.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.victoriadugger.studio/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoria.dugger.studio/
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of the artist and Sargent’s Daughters
