In this solo episode, Victoria explores what it means to stay in relationship with your creative practice, especially during imperfect or inconsistent seasons. She reflects on her January drawing challenge, reframing missed days not as failure but as an invitation to practice persistence, forgiveness, and trust. Rather than focusing on productivity or perfection, this episode emphasizes returning to the work, honoring natural rhythms, and recognizing that simply showing up, even when nothing visible happens, is an essential act of devotion to a sustainable art practice.

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

To learn more about 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 hundreds of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

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

Artist, curator, educator, and founder of The Art Is the Next Level, Sergio Gomez joins Victoria Fry for a candid conversation about sustainability, boundaries, and staying grounded in an increasingly distracted world. Together, they reflect on how intentional routines, self-awareness, and thoughtful decision-making can help artists avoid burnout while continuing to grow creatively and professionally.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. How morning routines and grounding practices create a buffer against overwhelm, and why they need to be personal, flexible, and enjoyable
2. Navigating distraction, digital fatigue, and the constant pull away from creative work in a screen-driven culture
3. The power of intentional boundaries, including Sergio’s “add and subtract” rule for protecting time and energy
4. Reframing success through self-reflection, accountability, and aligning daily choices with the highest version of yourself

About Sergio-

Sergio Gomez is a visual artist, gallery director, author, and podcast host known for his large-scale figurative abstraction paintings and charcoal drawings that explore the cycles of life. Based in South Florida after years in Chicago, his work has been featured in over 45 solo exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally in museums in Romania, Italy, Mexico, and Vienna, as well as in over 150 group exhibitions worldwide. He is the Director of Exhibitions at the Zhou B Art Center and founder of 33 Contemporary Gallery, curating over 100 exhibitions, including the renowned National Wet Paint MFA and National Self Portrait Annual. Sergio co-founded Art NXT Level®, a coaching platform for artists, and hosts the popular Art NXT Level podcast with 375+ episodes. As co-author of Crush Self-Sabotage and Live Fully!, he empowers artists to build sustainable careers.

Website: sergiogomezonline.com

IG: @sergiogomezart

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Jonathan Carver Moore joins Victoria to share his journey into the art world and the founding of Jonathan Carver Moore Gallery in San Francisco, a space dedicated to championing BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists through a Black queer lens. Jonathan reflects on how early museum visits shaped his love of art, how community and curating organically led him toward gallery ownership, and the pivotal impact of encountering Zanele Muholi’s work during a time of personal and global transformation. Together, Victoria and Jonathan discuss building inclusive art spaces, the power of community-driven programming, and why sometimes the most meaningful opportunities come from simply asking.

Key Topics –

• Jonathan’s path from nonprofit work to gallery ownership and the moments that clarified his curatorial vision.
• Creating an inclusive gallery in the Tenderloin and building community through artist talks, open houses, and a robust Artist in Residence program.
• Art fairs as relationship-building and marketing, the value of smaller fairs, and why long-term connections matter as much as immediate sales.

About Jonathan –
Jonathan Carver Moore is the founder of Jonathan Carver Moore Gallery in San Francisco, a contemporary gallery dedicated to championing BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists through a Black queer lens. Through exhibitions, community programming, and an Artist in Residence initiative, he creates space for storytelling, representation, and connection, while supporting artists in building visibility and sustainable careers.

Website: jonathancarvermoore.com

IG: @jonathancarvermoore

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

In the first episode of 2026, Victoria reflects on easing back into work after the holidays and the role of routine, patience, and self-trust in rebuilding creative momentum. She shares openly about returning to the studio after time away and how honoring both rest and structure supports a sustainable art practice.

Victoria discusses her January drawing challenge and the powerful impact daily, low-pressure drawing has on reconnecting with flow, releasing perfectionism, and sharpening technical skills. She emphasizes the value of prioritizing studio practice before career goals, encouraging artists to reflect on what they want to make, revisit, pause, or explore this year. This episode invites artists to begin the year by grounding themselves in practice, curiosity, and alignment, trusting that clarity and momentum grow from consistent, intentional presence.

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

To learn more about 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 hundreds of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

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

Victoria closes out 2025 with a reflective solo episode focused on honoring growth, releasing what no longer serves, and intentionally preparing for the year ahead. She reflects on the evolution of the podcast, personal challenges she’s navigated over the past few years, and the importance of staying connected to purpose during difficult seasons.

Drawing from symbolism in the Year of the Snake and the Year of the Horse, Victoria explores themes of shedding, intuition, alignment over approval, and the momentum that comes from embodied self-trust. This episode invites artists to pause, acknowledge their resilience, and step into 2026 with clarity, courage, and intention.

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

To learn more about 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 hundreds of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

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

Michelle Brandt joins Victoria to share her journey from art educator to gallery director and founder of Pecha Projects, a project space dedicated to counter narratives in contemporary art. Michelle reflects on staying “obedient to her gifts,” navigating a life-threatening illness, and learning to prioritize presence over perfection in both her work and life. She and Victoria discuss alignment, rejection as redirection, and the power of championing artists whose stories and practices feel deeply meaningful and alive.

Key Topics –

• Michelle's journey with Brandt Gallery, Pecha Projects as spaces for social narrative and underrepresented voices.
• Reframing rejection as redirection, asking for what you want, and approaching galleries with intention and professionalism.
• Letting go of “perfect balance,” embracing trade-offs, and using meditation, mornings, and self-care to stay grounded and present.

About Michelle –

Michelle Brandt is the owner and director of Brandt Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, and the founder of Pecha Projects, a project space and initiative centered on counter narratives and contemporary art. With a background in art education and years of experience working in galleries, Michelle has built a practice around championing artists, connecting people, and sharing stories that make us think differently. Through her gallery, project space, and mentoring, she supports artists in cultivating meaningful, sustainable careers.

Website: brandt-gallery.com

IG: @brandtgallery

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Artist, author, and creative leader Ekaterina Popova joins Victoria to explore the evolution of her creative practice, from her childhood in Russia to building an expansive career as a painter, mentor, and founder of Create! Magazine. Ekaterina reflects on the women who shaped her early artistic identity, the emotional foundations of her work, and the challenges and rewards of leading a growing creative community. She and Victoria discuss intuition, experimentation, and the inner permission artists need to grow, shift, and embrace play throughout their careers.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Developing an artistic voice shaped by memory, cultural transition, and familial influence.
2. Building Create! Magazine, supporting artists, and navigating the responsibilities of leadership.
3. Embracing “ugly” phases, intuitive sketching, and listening to inner alignment.
4. Balancing discipline and devotion while fostering freedom, curiosity, and authentic creative evolution.

About Kat -

Ekaterina Popova is a Russian-born artist whose contemporary oil paintings explore themes of home, belonging, and identity. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Kutztown University in 2011, she has continued to develop her studio practice and share her work through exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally. Inspired by post-impressionism, fauvism, and magical realism, Popova’s paintings evoke mood and emotion through richly textured interiors and landscapes. Her decade-long exploration of home and place reflects a deep connection to personal narrative and the meaning of belonging. Her work has been featured in galleries including Cohle Gallery in Paris and Menorca, The Painting Center in New York, James Oliver Gallery, Paradigm Gallery, and more.

Popova’s journey and work have been highlighted in publications such as Colossal, Flow Magazine, Beautiful Bizarre, American Art Collector, The Jealous Curator, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She has participated in residencies at Centre Pompadour in France, NES Residency in Iceland, and the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in Greece, all of which have contributed to her evolving studio practice. Based in Philadelphia at 1241 Carpenter Street Studios, Popova is also the founder of Create! Magazine and Art Queens and the host of the Art & Cocktails podcast. She has co-authored The Complete Smartist Guide and The Creative Business Handbook, helping artists build sustainable art careers.

Website: katerinapopova.com + createmagazine.co + paintwithkat.com

IG: @katerinaspopova @createmagazine

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

As the year comes to a close, Victoria answers some of the most common questions artists are asking right now—from choosing the right opportunities to growing an online presence with intention. She shares why long-term vision is the anchor for decision-making, how to build meaningful relationships in the art world, and why authenticity (not trends) is the strongest strategy for social media. Victoria also invites artists to pause, reflect, and set the energetic tone for 2026 before diving into goals or planning.

In this episode, she also announces that she’s opening a very limited number of 1:1 Strategy Sessions for new artists, designed to help you gain clarity, direction, and a solid plan for the year ahead.

Victoria also shares details about the debut of her new watercolor series Where Flowers Dream, on view at Warnes Contemporary in Brooklyn on December 13, with a free in-person watercolor workshop on December 14. This episode is for artists who want to enter 2026 feeling grounded, strategic, and empowered—ready to take aligned steps toward the career they truly want.

To book a 1:1 Strategy Session:
visionaryartcollective.com/services/p/11-strategy-session-with-victoria-j-fry-45-min

Learn more about Victoria’s upcoming watercolor debut:
warnescontemporary.com/upcomingevents

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 hundreds of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter