Born and raised in Knoxville, artist Victoria Rose Phillips showcases a style of art that she describes as “pure” and “visceral.” She says her work is based on her spirituality, proudly proclaiming that divine intervention has opened the door to all of her success.
While many artists are born with a passion to pursue their calling, Victoria said hers was encouraged by her great aunt. “I didn’t know at the time what an artist was, but in my kindergarten class at Christenberry Elementary School, we painted pumpkins to illustrate a poem. I gave it to my Great Aunt Mildred, who framed it. Every time I would visit her from that point on, she would tell me that I was going to be a famous artist one day. I thought she was just saying that to be sweet like all great aunts do, but I realized as I got older that she was speaking life into my passion to create.”
After high school, Phillips went to Lee University where she attained a B.A. in Visual Arts with an emphasis in Studio Art. In 2019 she received her M.F.A. in Painting at Savannah College of Art and Design. Following her master’s degree, she took a residency in Greece. Victoria says this experience allowed her to deepen her expressiveness. “During this time, I focused on creating from a place within, which is what I ended up titling my exhibition that is currently on display at the Emporium in Knoxville.”
Phillips is a public school visual arts educator and a part-time assistant professor of art in Atlanta. Three of her pieces are scheduled to appear in an upcoming exhibit in Paris. She has artwork represented by two galleries in Georgia and is active in her studio at Mutiny Artwrx in Atlanta.