Storytelling with Pattern & Color: Textile Artist Victoria Villasana
My next interview is with Victoria Villasana, an artist working with photographic imagery and textiles from Guadalajara, Mexico. Victoria tells stories through pattern and color; often weaving together historical images with contemporary elements inspired by pop art, fashion, and multiculturalism. In this interview, Victoria discusses her experiences living in Mexico and London, and shares the inspiration behind her dynamic and colorful works of art that have gained international attention.
Hi Victoria! Tell me about your background and where your creative journey began.
It began when I was a child, I used to love painting and making dresses for my dolls, then my path was not a straight line. I studied design in Mexico, but I always felt like a closet artist. Later on I moved to London and life took me to explore other mediums like floristry and fashion. I was always doing something creative on the side, what I do now used to be my hobby.
How have your experiences living in Mexico and London shaped your work as an artist?
I believe everything we do, learn and explore help us with our creative process. I think the colors and textile traditions from indigenous people in Mexico has influenced my work, but also the multiculturalism of the streets of London. I moved around London a lot, so I lived in different areas and I had the opportunity to experienced different cultural communities and observe very closely how we all relate somehow. This was an incredible experience because it was like moving to different parts of their world each year. The contrast and nuances that each culture had inspired my work in some way.
Your work is incredibly unique in that you combine photographic imagery with textiles - telling stories through color and patterns. Can you tell me about the narratives you create within your work?
I tend to create work with topics that I find relevant or that I'm currently exploring. I like to look at the past and see all the tradition and history and revive it with a more contemporary approach, mixing mediums that don't normally work, or mixing pop culture, social causes and the spirit of our humanity and how they can relate.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Everywhere - books, documentaries, nature, history, philosophy, spirituality. I feel inspired by strong social movements throughout history. I'm interested in characters that change and questioned the status quo of our times. I think is really important to be interested in other things that do not necessarily relate to art directly.
You also paint murals with textile details on the sides of buildings. When did you start bringing your work into the streets of Mexico, and what impact do you hope to create by doing so?
I started creating street art when I was in London and continue to do now in Mexico and everywhere I go. I don't really try to create an impact, I just do it because I like sharing it with people, I do it for people that normally feel intimidated by art galleries.
Follow Victoria on Instagram at: villanaart