Victoria J Powell

Choosing natural surroundings or found objects, I am an impressionist painter whose work is grounded in the 19th and 20th century realist traditions, but characterized by loose brush strokes, simplified details, and the suppression of transitional tones. Born into a family of art dealers, artists and collectors, I prize visual literacy and feel so lucky to have had early exposure to fine art. A secondary influence from my family would be an appreciation for the natural world, including botany, ornithology, and entomology, which manifested in a childhood with many outdoor adventures in what I would call "assisted looking" which happened for me because my guide, my father in this case, was a naturalist and scientist of boundless curiosity.

Impressionist also by conviction, an "art spirit" as Robert Henri describes, all the subject matter I need I find by just looking around the natural world, "being there," and whisking the colors down before the light changes too much. My mission as a painter is to touch passersby, one at a time, to inspire a pause, maybe a memory, a smile, invite curiosity or wonder, and especially for me, were I to have that chance, a conversation. In my understanding of the impressionist mission, it is only...

Studied Fine Art at St. John's University, MN
Mentored by the late Bela Petheo

2025 Inaugural Summit Artlink Exhibition, Phoenix AZ
2025 Camelback Gallery, Shades of Blue, Bronze Award
Brown's Fine Art, Jackson, MS
2025 Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Perspectives of
Greater Phoenix Exhibition "Brittlebush After Bloom"