Artist Statement

Artist Statement

My art consists of both figurative and abstract work where the line between the two is not always clear-cut.

I explore identity - who I am, who we are as individuals and finally who we are as a whole.

I am also fascinated by change and its irreversible progress. 

Moreover, my work is a response to the experience of being an intersex / trans woman.  Although paintings range from images of volcanoes to intimate depictions of nature through the seasons, they are all essentially portraits - often self portraits, as I try to understand myself.  In the past I found it almost impossible to directly portray myself in my art and so sought to use other images as emblems.  However, as time has moved on I have felt able to explore identity through direct representations of the self.

I am drawn to painting as the most satisfying form of expression though I experiment with other media and I am always mindful of the search for harmony or purposeful discord within the work to help me judge when it is complete.

About the Artist

Victoria was born in London, England in 1969 and raised by Catholic Spanish / French parents and is a self-taught artist.

Due to her exceptional circumstances (she is an intersex/transsexual woman with XXY chromosomes, recognised as a "genetic developmental mutation") Victoria has experienced life in the role of both genders. Though Victoria is female, because she was born with the extra Y chromosome she was assigned the "male" label at birth and lived for a time as a perceived male. Victoria's recognised "social transition" was the 7th July 2009 (at the age of 39) when she began living full-time as a female in the public eye.

Victoria has stated in the past "My singular medical and psychological history has informed who and what I am but it is not all of me. From birth I was perceived as male, raised as male and lived as a male until 2008 when I was recognized as female. This has left a lasting impression on my life and informs the person I am today."

Victoria lives in South London with the singer/songwriter Emma Cantons, her partner since 2003 and has two step-children.

19 January 2012