Victoria Holton

While I was in my college printmaking class, I was required to choose an artist to research and present their work to the class. The list I had to choose from was ninety percent male. Upon viewing my choices, I had a revelation. Female artists and their work were underrepresented in the art world. I became determined to research female artists. Through this research, I became acutely aware of the differences in how women were depicted in art by male artists versus female artists. Female artists portrayed the dynamic character and soul of their female subject rather than just her beauty. These female artists inspired me to do the same in my work.

At the same time, I continued to be inspired by myths and tales of ancient religions that had been a part of my life since childhood. I began to notice within these stories how female deities were not merely represented as sexual figures but as creators, holders of knowledge and the arts, and fierce warriors. For those who identify as female, we know that we are more than just daughters, wives, and mothers; we are also warriors in life, purveyors of luck, masters of our sexuality, and intellectual forces.

This collection of woodblock prints consists of six goddesses from six different religions. Each goddess reflects the concept of femininity, what it means to be a woman, and the power that we hold.

Listen to Victoria’s Artist Talk, captured on March 26, 2021, click here, and log-in with passcode: G#pmgBV6.