Victoria Fuller (artist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Victoria Barrett Fuller
Global Garden Shovel, a 2010 public sculpture by Fuller, installed at Columbia City station in Seattle
Born	(1953-05-13) May 13, 1953 (age 72) Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	University of Denver Regis University (BA) School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA)
Known for	Sculptor, artist

Victoria Barrett Fuller, born on May 13, 1953, is an American artist. She is well-known for her sculptures and paintings. Victoria Fuller is also a talented singer, songwriter, and musician.

Early Life and Art Education

Victoria Fuller was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She grew up on a farm in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. She went to school at Moravian Preparatory School. Later, she graduated from Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

Fuller studied at the University of Denver. She then moved to Aspen, Colorado. There, she earned a bachelor's degree from Regis University. In Aspen, she also studied at the Anderson Ranch Art Center. She learned from famous artists like Jim Dine and Red Grooms. She even helped artist Deborah Butterfield build a horse sculpture.

In the 1980s, Fuller also attended the Parsons Paris program in Paris. She spent time at the San Francisco Art Institute. In 1984, she moved to New York City. She showed her art in galleries like Westbroadway Gallery. Later, in 1992, Fuller moved to Chicago. She earned her master's degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1994.

Art Career and Style

Victoria Fuller creates art using many different materials. She makes paintings, sculptures, and art installations. Her early work in the 1980s often used bright, cartoon-like images. She later started adding everyday objects to her art.

From 1990 to 2010, Fuller used industrial materials and geometric shapes. She combined these with common objects. Her art style reminds people of 1960s minimalism and pop art. She is inspired by artists like Claes Oldenburg. Fuller's work often looks at how natural and man-made things connect. She also explores ideas about society and popular culture.

Lanny Silverman, a curator from the Chicago Cultural Center, said that Fuller uses parts from modern industry. He noted that she frees these objects from their usual uses. She puts them together in fun ways that make us think about how we use things. Some of her famous large sculptures include:

• "Shoe of Shoes" in St. Louis, Missouri. This is a giant high-heeled shoe made from about 2,000 cast aluminum shoes.
• "Global Garden Shovel" in Seattle, Washington. This bronze sculpture is 35 feet tall.

Art Exhibitions

Victoria Fuller has had many art shows. She has had four solo shows, meaning her art was the only art displayed. These include "Extraordinary Ordinary" in Michigan in 1998. Another was "The Emancipation of the Common Object" at the Chicago Cultural Center in 2001.

Her work has also been part of many group shows. In 2011, her art was in "Recycled, Reclaimed, Repurposed" at the Willis Tower. In 2010, she showed art at "Sculpture Invasion 2010" in Des Plaines, Illinois. She also had work in "Countercurrents" at Art Chicago. That same year, she created "Peas and Quiet" for Comed's "Fine Art Fridges" display. This piece is now at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Illinois.

Other important shows include:

• "Species Affected by Global Warming" at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago (2009).
• A three-person show at the Sears Tower (2009).
• "Krasl Biennial Sculpture Invitational" in St. Joseph, Michigan (2006).
• "Formed to Function" at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (2003).
• "Pierwalk" at Navy Pier in Chicago (2002 and 1999).

The "Shoe of Shoes" sculpture was shown at "The Really Big Shoe Show" at the City Museum in St. Louis. It was later bought by Brown Shoe Company. You can see it outside their offices in Clayton, Missouri.

Fuller's art has been bought by many places. These include Sound Transit in Seattle and the Allentown Art Museum. Her work is also at ESPN Zone in Chicago.

Music Career

Besides being a visual artist, Victoria Fuller is also a singer and songwriter. Her music mixes alternative rock, pop, jazz, and blues. Her first CD, Small Moments, was released in 2006. It features talented musicians like Scott Bennett, who plays with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Jeff Jacobs, who has performed with Billy Joel, also played on the album.

Fuller's band is called Victoria Fuller and The Brushmen. In 2008, her song "Barcelona Nights" was nominated for an award. She has also received several Honorable Mention awards for her songwriting. Her songs have been played on radio stations like 93.1 WXRT-FM and WGN Radio. You can also find her music on iTunes and other music platforms.

Awards and Recognition

Victoria Fuller has received many awards for her art.

• In 1986, she won the Creative Fellowship Award. This was from the Colorado Council on the Arts and Humanities.
• In 2000, she received a Fellowship Award from the Illinois Arts Council.
• She also won "Best of 3D" at the Rockford Art Museum.
• She received a "Juror’s Award" at the Evanston Art Center.
• More recently, Fuller received the CAAP Grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Media and Publications

Victoria Fuller's work has been featured in many newspapers and magazines. Articles and reviews about her art have appeared in:

• Western Arts and Architecture
• New York Daily News
• Chicago Tribune
• Chicago Sun Times
• New York Post

Her art has also been shown on TV. You can see her work on NBC, CBS, and ABC stations in Chicago. Fox news in St. Louis has also featured her art.