In this episode, Victoria sits down with Philadelphia-based artist, curator, and founder of Era Contemporary, Jessica Libor, to discuss the creation of her immersive exhibition She in the Tower, the power of storytelling and mythology in curatorial practice, and the importance of building intentional artistic worlds that extend beyond the artwork itself. Together, they also dive into their upcoming Brooklyn pop-up exhibition The Midnight Garden, exploring themes of transformation, intuition, beauty, wildness, and the subconscious, while reflecting on artistic ambition, defining success on your own terms, and the importance of protecting time for creative practice.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Jessica’s immersive exhibition She in the Tower and her process for curating experiential exhibitions
2. The themes behind The Midnight Garden and how mythology, intuition, and transformation inform the exhibition
3. Creating artistic “worlds” through atmosphere, installation, storytelling, and community
4. Defining success on your own terms and building a sustainable creative life
5. Protecting creative time, setting boundaries, and staying focused on long-term artistic goals

Jessica Libor is a Philadelphia-based visual artist, curator, and founder/director of Era Contemporary. Through richly imagined figurative paintings, her work explores themes of feminine identity, storytelling, and personal mythology. Alongside her studio practice, Libor has curated a wide range of exhibitions through Era Contemporary, supporting artists working in imaginative and contemporary realism while creating immersive, thoughtfully curated experiences that foster visibility, connection, and dialogue within the arts community.

Website: jessicalibor.com / eracontemporary.com

IG: @jessicalibor / @eracontemporary
Submit to The Midnight Garden by May 31, 2026: visionaryartcollective.com/the-midnight-garden
Submit to Lucent Waters by June 19, 2026: eracontemporary.com/open-call-guidelines

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Victoria reflects on grief, artistic evolution, and the courage it takes to create work that feels emotionally honest. Following the unexpected loss of her aunt, she shares how grief has shifted her perspective on time, creativity, emotional capacity, and the importance of making work that feels true rather than simply safe. The episode explores fear, vulnerability, creative growth, boundaries, and what it means to trust yourself as your work begins to change and evolve.

To learn more about Victoria's 1:1 Mentorship Program, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/mentorship

To access Victoria's signature Artist Statement & Bio workshop:
visionaryartcollective.com/artist-statement-bio-workshop

To enroll in The Visionary Community, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/visionary-community-enroll

Victoria J. Fry is a New York City–based painter, educator, curator, and founder of Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She has supported thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Instagram: @visionaryartcollective / @warnescontemporary / @newvisionarymag
Newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Discover how meditation can deepen artistic practice, enhance emotional resilience, and foster authentic connections, as shared by visual artist Karen Fitzgerald. This episode explores the intersection of mindfulness and creativity, highlighting real stories and practical insights.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Karen’s journey into meditation and its impact on her art and personal life
2. How meditation fuels clarity, courage, and authenticity in creative work
3. Introducing Studio Contemporary: a new platform connecting artists with collectors through studio visits
4. The significance of values, intentionality, and community in artistic growth

Karen Fitzgerald is an artist living in Maryland who is collected by individuals and institutions, exhibits here and there, and occasionally gets recognized for her efforts.  She spends her days speaking up and sharing her creative process with the public through her studio in Alexandria, Virginia.  With the aim of making art and artists a more substantive part of our world, Karen founded studio contemporary (studio C) in 2026, a platform that directly connects collectors with art they love by inviting them into artists’ studios. 

Website: karenfitzgeraldart.com

IG: @karen.fitzgerald.art

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Victoria shares an update on her 30 day drawing challenge and how consistent, daily “warm ups” have created more flow in her practice. She explores the importance of boundaries, how they differ from walls, and why they’re essential for protecting creative energy while still allowing connection. Victoria also reflects on her own boundaries and encourages artists to communicate them clearly, allowing for greater consistency, confidence, and long term growth.

To learn more about Victoria's 1:1 Mentorship Program, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/mentorship

To access Victoria's signature Artist Statement & Bio workshop:
visionaryartcollective.com/artist-statement-bio-workshop

To enroll in The Visionary Community, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/visionary-community-enroll

Victoria J. Fry is a New York City–based painter, educator, curator, and founder of Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She has supported thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Instagram: @visionaryartcollective / @warnescontemporary / @newvisionarymag
Newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Jill McDougall shares her approach to creating from a place of intuition, play, and creative freedom. Discover how slowing down, embracing imperfection, and reconnecting with childlike curiosity can transform your creative practice.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Returning to childlike play as a creative necessity
2. Building self-trust and following intuition in the studio
3. Letting go of perfectionism and embracing the full process
4. The role of mindfulness, observation, and slowing down
5. Jill’s Create Every Day in May creative freedom challenge

Jill McDougall is a mixed media artist based in Northwest Washington. Through collage, photography, and layered materials, she explores abstraction and the creative process, sharing her insights through her Substack and artist interviews.

Website: jillmcdougall.com/
Instagram: @jillmcdougallart
Substack: jillinspire.substack.com/

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

In this episode, Victoria shares why she’s pausing her online group programs to focus on her 1:1 mentorship, offering a more personalized and strategic approach to supporting artists. She reflects on the value of individualized guidance in building momentum, refining a cohesive body of work, and aligning materials with meaningful opportunities. While she continues to teach through guest lectures and may return to group programs in the future, her current focus is on working closely with artists through one-on-one support, with a limited number of mentorship spots opening this summer.

To learn more about Victoria's 1:1 Mentorship Program, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/mentorship

To access Victoria's signature Artist Statement & Bio workshop:
visionaryartcollective.com/artist-statement-bio-workshop

To enroll in The Visionary Community, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/visionary-community-enroll

Victoria J. Fry is a New York City–based painter, educator, curator, and founder of Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She has supported thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

In this episode, Victoria shares a quick studio update on her 30 day drawing challenge and offers practical guidance for refreshing your artist materials this spring. She explores how your website, social media, and artist statement impact the opportunities available to you and why alignment matters. Throughout the episode, she discusses building consistency in your creative practice, making it easier to show up without perfection, refreshing your website, Instagram, and artist statement, aligning your materials with your goals, and thinking from the perspective of curators and galleries. The key takeaway is that your materials should reflect the level of opportunity you are seeking, and your action step is to review your materials and ask yourself, would I feel ready if my ideal opportunity came my way today.

To learn more about Victoria's 1:1 Mentorship Program, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/mentorship

To access Victoria's signature Artist Statement & Bio workshop:
visionaryartcollective.com/artist-statement-bio-workshop

To enroll in The Visionary Community, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/visionary-community-enroll

Victoria J. Fry is a New York City–based painter, educator, curator, and founder of Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She has supported thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

In this short solo episode, Victoria shares a simple yet powerful mindset shift to help artists move out of scarcity and into a more solution-oriented way of thinking. She reflects on showing up imperfectly and reminds us that growth comes from doing what we can with what we have. She explores how scarcity can show up around time, money, opportunities, and feeling “behind,” and offers a grounding question to reframe those thoughts: What opportunities might already be around me that I haven’t claimed yet, and what is one small step I can take today to move forward? This episode encourages artists to focus on what’s within their control and build momentum through consistent, intentional action.

To learn more about Victoria's 1:1 Mentorship Program, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/mentorship

To access Victoria's signature Artist Statement & Bio workshop:
visionaryartcollective.com/artist-statement-bio-workshop

To enroll in The Visionary Community, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/visionary-community-enroll

Victoria J. Fry is a New York City–based painter, educator, curator, and founder of Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She has supported thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

In this episode, Victoria shares an honest and grounding perspective on comparison and the feeling of not being “enough” as an artist, reminding us that these thoughts are universal but don’t have to define how we move forward. She explores how comparison is often a reflection of how we see ourselves, how the feeling of not being enough doesn’t disappear with success, and how we can reframe these moments into clarity around what we truly want. This episode is a powerful reminder to honor your own timeline, take action even when you don’t feel ready, and return to your own work as a way to reconnect with your path.

To learn more about Victoria's 1:1 Mentorship Program, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/mentorship

To access Victoria's signature Artist Statement & Bio workshop:
visionaryartcollective.com/artist-statement-bio-workshop

To enroll in The Visionary Community, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/visionary-community-enroll

Victoria J. Fry is a New York City–based painter, educator, curator, and founder of Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She has supported thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Victoria discusses the importance of taking full responsibility for your art career and thinking creatively about how to create your own opportunities. She shares how artists can shift from waiting to be chosen to actively building visibility and momentum through outreach, alignment, and initiative. This episode also includes updates on Warnes Contemporary’s recent success at the Affordable Art Fair and her 1:1 mentorship program.

To learn more about Victoria's 1:1 Mentorship Program, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/mentorship

To access Victoria's signature Artist Statement & Bio workshop:
visionaryartcollective.com/artist-statement-bio-workshop

To enroll in The Visionary Community, visit:
visionaryartcollective.com/visionary-community-enroll

Victoria J. Fry is a New York City–based painter, educator, curator, and founder of Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She has supported thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter