In this insightful interview, artist Jelena Hay shares her creative journey, the emotional depth behind her layered drawings, and how she balances her art practice with her life as a mother in New York City. Discover how residencies, personal experiences, and bold experimentation have shaped her unique style.

Here’s what we discuss:
1. Jalena’s artistic evolution from portraiture to abstraction
2. The influence of personal experiences and heritage on her work
3. The role of residencies in artistic growth
4. Balancing motherhood, full-time work, and art practice

About Jalena
Jalena’s practice is all about taking control of the chaos. Her work layers Pen, Ink, Gouache, Pastel and Colored Pencil to create intricate compositions that don’t just ask for your attention—they demand it. These compositions evoke a tension between abstraction and emotion, where every mark becomes part of a larger exploration of themes such as impermanence, resilience, and interconnectedness. Jalena Hay was born and raised in Southern California before moving to New York City to study Drawing and Printmaking at Pratt Institute. Her passion for printmaking took her to Amsterdam, where she dove deep into lithography, pushing the boundaries of line, texture and form.

Website: jalenahay.com
IG: @jalena.hay

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In this episode, Victoria interviews visual artist Vivian Cavalieri, who discusses her impactful work focusing on women's rights and social justice, particularly in relation to her exhibition at the Military Women's Memorial. Vivian shares her inspirations, the importance of storytelling through art, and how her background as an attorney influences her artistic practice. The conversation delves into the significance of women's contributions during World War II and the ongoing relevance of these stories today.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. Exploring Women’s Rights through art
2. The impact of research on artistic practice
3. The evolution of assemblage as a medium
4. Connecting the past and the present with the roles in women in history

About Vivian-

Vivian Cavalieri is a visual artist with a studio on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Her three-dimensional miniature scenes prompt conversations on a range of global issues including immigration, climate change, and social justice. Cavalieri’s first solo exhibition took place in January-February 2025. Her second solo show runs from November 2025-May 2026 at the Military Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Her work has appeared in numerous group exhibitions in the US and abroad. Six of her assemblages were included in WOVEN 2023, curated by Ciara Hambly of the Hambly & Hambly Gallery in Northern Ireland. Following six weeks at the Sasse Museum in Los Angeles, the exhibit travelled to France where filmmaker Lara Laigneau produced a documentary on it. In 2024, she received the Boynes Monthly Artist Award for December and was short-listed for the John Richardson French Residency Award. In 2025, she was shortlisted for the 2025 Women United Art Prize and longlisted for the 2025 Visual Art Open.

Website: viviancavalieri.com

IG: @vc_artworks_

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In this episode, Victoria shares insights from a recent guest lecture on working with galleries, offering a clear and empowering perspective on how artists can navigate gallery relationships today. She discusses the importance of building a cohesive body of work, developing professional materials, cultivating relationships, and maintaining independence while pursuing representation. Rather than waiting to be chosen, artists are encouraged to focus on alignment, consistency, and long-term momentum, remembering that strong careers attract the right gallery partnerships.

To book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Victoria (limited availability) visit:
https://www.visionaryartcollective.com/services/p/11-strategy-session-with-victoria-j-fry-45-min

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 reflects on a reminder to “reaffirm the moments we’ve already had” and connects it to the way artists often focus on what’s next instead of acknowledging how far they’ve come. She shares how sorting through past work and recording guiding questions in the studio helped her feel more connected to her evolving botanical and butterfly series. Victoria explores the difference between grounded ambition and desperate ambition, reminding listeners that scarcity is often perceptual and rooted in feeling behind. She encourages artists to pause, name their wins, let inquiry guide their practice, and trust that even in quieter seasons, they are still artists.

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 register for Victoria's upcoming webinar at Salmagundi, visit:
https://salmagundi.org/2026-from-studio-to-gallery/

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 thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

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

In this episode, Victoria speaks with James McCrae, an author, poet, and teacher who explores the intersection of creativity and mindfulness. They discuss James's journey as a creative, the importance of community in nurturing artistic expression, and the philosophy behind his initiative, Sunflower Club. The conversation delves into overcoming creative blocks, the healing power of creativity, and the release of vulnerability in sharing one's art. James also shares insights from his latest book, 'The Art of You,' which emphasizes the balance between the spiritual and practical aspects of creativity.

Here’s what we discuss:

1. The challenge societal expectations can pose for artists, and how to overcome them
2. How to find time for art with a busy schedule and navigating creative blocks
3. How Engaging with new experiences can refill creative inspiration
4. Meditation and mindfulness practices to enhance creativity

About James -

James McCrae is a poet and teacher at the intersection of creativity and mindfulness.

As the founder of Sunflower Club, a global creative community, he helps writers, artists and entrepreneurs embody their authentic voice and higher purpose. He is a regular speaker and workshop facilitator at events and retreats around the world. A former Madison Avenue brand strategist, James has helped numerous companies define their message and mission. James lives in Austin TX, where he hosts regular open mic nights.

Website: jamesmccrae.com

IG: @wordsarevibrations

Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag

Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter

Victoria shares grounded advice on studio visits, offering guidance on how to prepare your space, what kinds of work to show, how to navigate dialogue and silence, and why presence and generosity matter more than perfection. The episode also touches on easing into the year with grace and viewing studio visits as opportunities for connection, feedback, and long-term relationship building.

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

To register for Victoria's upcoming webinar at Salmagundi, visit:
https://salmagundi.org/2026-from-studio-to-gallery/

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 thousands of artists through exhibitions, publications, and mentorship.

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

Victoria shares what’s coming up at Visionary Art Collective, New Visionary Magazine, and Warnes Contemporary. She discusses reviewing applications for her 1:1 Mentorship Program beginning in March, announces a February webinar with the Salmagundi Club on what curators and gallery directors look for, and shares updates on Femina, the gallery’s first all-women group exhibition of 2026. Victoria also notes that enrollment is open for The Visionary Community, that Warnes Contemporary will return to the Affordable Art Fair this March, and notes the shift of New Visionary Magazine to a biannual publication schedule, reflecting a more intentional and sustainable approach to growth.

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

To register for Victoria's upcoming webinar at Salmagundi, visit:
https://salmagundi.org/2026-from-studio-to-gallery/

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

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