About
Victoria Grace Canby is a mixed media artist based in the Bay Area with a strongly rooted connection to their birthplace New Mexico. Their work focuses on their experience as an Indigenous artist and parent unraveling the complex cycles and history of their family and ancestral stories. With a focus on plants, Indigenous teachings, and personal spiritual symbolism, they create work intended to find solidarity in their community and navigate their Indigenous identity.
Victoria holds an Associate Degree in Studio Art, Bachelors in Art History from Sonoma State, Masters in Humanities from Dominican University, and Certification in Museum Studies from Institute of American Indian Art. They studied permaculture at the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas and completed their first year certification in herbalism at Gathering Thyme in San Rafael. They have worked in various educational settings both in the classroom and in Nature over the last 25 years. Their diverse educational background impacts their work through historical, botanical and cultural imagery and context.
Artist Statement
I identify art as a root to my life and create in the spirit of my ancestors-for function, beauty, process and healing. My academic and professional background has helped me to think critically about my responsibility as an artist and fuels my passion for activism. My preferred media is anything practical or utilitarian- found, free, gifted, recycled or upcycled materials. The imagery I make delves into my own experience as an Indigenous woman traversing a world saturated in consumerism, commodification, capitalism, and colonization and surviving heartbreak daily.
Education
Institute of American Indian Art, Certification of Museum Studies 2021
Dominican University, Master in Humanitiea, graduated 2016
Sonoma State University, BA in Art History, graduated 2012
College of Marin-2006 graduated, A.A. in Art and A.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Tamiscal Independent Study High School-graduated 1995
Exhibitions
Solo-Featured Artist
Why Wait till We are Dead?, Dia de Los Muertos Event, SF Davies Symphony Hall 2024
We Grow Our Own Medicine- Intertribal & Interdimensional Healing Plant Studies (Series of 4), Earth Story Ancestors, The Cultural Conservancy, 2024
Our Ancestors with Us- Community Altar, Earth Story Ancestors, The Cultural Conservancy, 2024
Farmington, New Mexico, Minnesota Street Gallery, SF 2024
We Grow our Own Medicine for Interdimensional and Intertribal Healing, Clarion Alley, SF 2023
Reflections, Dia de Los Muertos Event, SF Davies Symphony Hall 2015
Two Fridas, Dia de Los Muertos Event, SF Davies Symphony Hall, 2012
Abuelos, Dia de Los Muertos Event Painting, Petaluma 2011
Serpent of Chiles, Dia de Los Muertos Event, SF Davies Symphony Hall 2011
Poster Art for Dia de Los Muertos Event, SF Davies Symphony Hall 2011
Yemaya of the Gulf Coast, Dia de Los Muertos Event, SOMA Arts 2010
Altar for the Ancestors, Dia de Los Muertos Event, SF Davies Symphony Hall 2009
Collaborative/Groups shows
Stories from the Edge of Town, Black Bird Bookstore & Cafe, 2024
Coast Miwok Stories- Short Film, Artabella Grant-Multicultural Center 2023
Bay Area Indigenous History Mural, Intertribal Friendship House, Oakland, 2014
A Different and Overwhelming Blue, Home Theater Festival Oakland, 2012
Tin Foil and Laser Guns, Ithaca Gallery, San Francisco, 2011
The Desert in Our Blood, Home Theater Festival, Oakland 2011
Skeleton Crew, Dia de Los Muertos Altar, Soma Arts 2011
6x6x6, Denver, 2011
Fringe Fest, San Francisco 2011
Skeleton Crew, Dia de Los Muertos Procession, Mission District 2010
Mural, Magic Theater, Ft. Mason, San Francisco 2010
Mural Magic Theater, Ft. Mason, San Francisco 2009
Lectures
Three Nations Indian Circle Event-discussing community art and experience in El Salvador
Civil Rights Art Project and Lecture- Edna Maguire Elementary
Dominican University-Contemporary Indian Issues Course
Awards and Publications
The Empowering Artists at Manifest Differently, Broke-Ass Stuart 2024
‘Manifest Differently’ explores trauma past and present- SF Chronicle 2024
Indigenous Speakers Series, Dominican University, 2021
Three Nations Indian Circle Award, 2011
La Musica de Los Muertos SF Gate, November 3, 2009, MWE Outfits
La Univision- Interviewed for SOMA Arts Dia de Los Muertos event 2009
Board Service & Volunteer Work
Dance Palace- Board Member 2025 to present
Multicultural Center of Marin 2025 to present
Alliance for Felix Cove- Strawberry Sister Board Member, educational consultant and educator 2021-2025
Co-collaborator of Marin Dance Collective- open dance forum on world dance, traditional exchange and collaborations 2011-2013
Freelance Face Painter-Sausalito Art Festival-2004-2010
Art Instruction, Colima, El Salvador, June 2004
Art Instruction, Colima El Salvador June 2005
Docent-Di Rosa Art and Nature Preserve, 2002
Educator- Precita Eyes Preschool Art Program, 2002
Internships and Apprenticeships
Apprenticeship- Diné weaving with Mary Johnson, Burnam, New Mexico 2009 to 2012
Intern-Regalia Making with Edward Willie reproducing traditional California Indian regalia, 2/2012- present
Dance Education
Katarina Burda- studied Middle Eastern, North African, Balkan and Turkish 1999-2015
Miriam Peretz-studied Central Asian dance 2006-2009
Rosa Rojas-studied Central Asian dance 2004-2006
Reyhan Tusuz- study intensive in Turkish Roman Dance in Istanbul September 2004
Dance Ensembles
Ballet Afsaneh- Central Asian dance ensemble preformed dances from the Silk Road, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan Persian and Azerbaijan
Bizim Malle-Turkish and Middle Eastern dance ensemble
Aywah- North African, Eastern European, Middle Eastern dance ensemble
Selected Performances
Solo Dancer, Chiapas Mexico 2010
Ballet Afsaneh- New York Nooroz Parade 2009
Ballet Afsaneh, Tamajavi Festival in Fresno 2009
Ballet Afsaneh San Francisco City Hall Norooz Event2009
Ballet Afsaneh- New York Nooroz Parade 2008
Ballet Afsaneh San Francisco City Hall Norooz Event2008
Bizim Malle, Café Amsterdam, 2007
Bizim Malle, Earthdance Festival, 2007
Fix your heart or die.
-David Lynch