Victoria Hauck is an artist that specializes in watercolor paintings and ceramics that she calls “pretty by accident” – but there is no accident about the artwork she creates. Despite being legally blind, Victoria has been well acquainted with art and colors since her early childhood.
“As a teen I would go over to my neighbor’s house and paint with her, she’s mainly responsible for my ‘know the rules to break them’ view of making art,” says Victoria.
As she grew into adulthood, Victoria became distant in her relationship with painting. But in 2015, the spark was reignited when she moved to Lynchburg, where she tried to make a career out of her art for several years. “I got pretty burnt out on painting and yearned for a creative outlet that was low pressure and tactile,” Victoria voices, “pottery classes at the Academy fit the bill! I fell in love immediately.”
Victoria had three pieces featured in the Madison House of the Arts exhibition shown at the Academy in August of 2021. Academy Director of Visual Arts, Ted Batt, was first introduced to Victoria through her time spent at the Pottery Studio. “She has no fear about tackling projects that are typically suited towards an advanced potter,” vocalizes Batt, “Victoria does not let her disability slow her down. She is very creative and is driven to improve her pottery skills.”
WATCH BELOW: Victoria Hauck on what has been meaningful to her during her time at the Academy
“I had always watched pottery videos on the internet and assumed I wouldn’t be able to afford regular classes, but the scholarship program at the Academy made it possible,” Victoria states, “Clay is now such an internal part of my creative process and I couldn’t imagine my life without it.”
When asked if she believes art is a need, Victoria responds, “Art is a need for me, I think art is a need for a lot of people,” she continues, “I don’t think it’s just a hobby. I think that it separates surviving from thriving.”
“Familiar” by Victoria Hauck
The Academy’s Education Access Program gives students like Victoria the opportunity to join in art and pottery classes despite any financial barriers they might have. Victoria remarks, “The Academy’s commitment to making art accessible to the local community is extremely meaningful to me. Hands-on, affordable classes for families and individuals where they can MAKE art, not just look at it is so so important.”
WATCH BELOW: Victoria Hauck on if art is a need
Pottery by Victoria Hauck
Check out Victoria’s artwork at @prettybyaccident for all paintings and @intentandmud for all ceramic work.
Stay tuned for the remaining Fall Campaign Stories … coming soon!
