About the Artist

“I am interested in the dual nature of paint as a medium – it can be used to create the illusion of the natural world, while at the same time being obviously paint, with abstract and beautiful qualities all its own.”

Victoria Castillo is a figurative painter whose work focuses on women in light-infused settings, usually gardens and intimate interiors. She studied painting at Washington & Lee University and at the University of Maryland, graduating with honors.  After college, Victoria has lived and worked in both Europe and the US. Most recently, she completed an intensive, classical, live model painting and drawing program at Studio Escalier in France.

Victoria’s paintings receive top awards at national exhibitions, including a Bronze Medal from Oil Painters of America, Best in Show at the Women Artists of the West 45th Annual National Exhibition, Best in Show at The National Society of Artists’ 30th Annual Exhibition, and Best in Show (twice) at the Louisiana Art & Artists’ Guild’s River Road National Show.  Her paintings have been spotted on HGTV's House Hunter's International and appear regularly at the National Arts Club and the Salmagundi Club in NYC, and in the magazines Southwest Art, Art of the West,  American Art Collector and International Artist. Victoria is a Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, and formerly served on the Board of Directors, as well as a current elected Artist Member of the Salmagundi Club. She is a sought-after workshop instructor and judge for art competitions.  Victoria resides in The Woodlands, TX with her husband and three dogs. 

 

 

Select Awards

 

Bronze Medal, Oil Painters of America's Western Regional Exhibition 2012

 

Best of Show, Women Artists of the West 45th Annual National Exhibition

 

Best of Show, National Society of Artists' 30th National Juried Exhibition

 

Best of Show, Louisiana Art & Artists' Guild 44th Annual River Road National Show

 

Best of Show, Louisiana Art & Artists' Guild 42nd Annual River Road National Show

 

Finalist, International Artist's  Portrait & Figures Competition

 

Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine's Award of Excellence, Women Artists of the West 50th Jubilee Exhibition

 

The National Arts Club Award, The Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's 118th Annual Exhibition 

 

The Florence & Ernest Thorne Thompson Memorial Award, The Allied Artists of America's

100 Year Anniversary Exhibition

 

Finalist, Southwest Art Magazine's Artistic Excellence Competition

 

Eleanor Coble Best Figurative Award, Women Artists of the West 50th Jubilee Exhibition

 

Finalist, Raymar's Third Annual Art Competition

 

Select Exhibitions

 

Virtuosos of the OPA, Cutter & Cutter Fine Art, St Augustine, FL

 

Oil Painters of America 29th Annual National Juried Exhibition, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX

 

Oil Painters of America 24th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Cutter & Cutter Fine Art, St Augustine, FL

 

Oil Painters of America 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT

 

Oil Painters of America 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, InSight Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX

 

Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO

 

National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society Best of America Exhibition, Montgomery Lee Fine Art, Park City, UT

 

National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society Best of America Exhibition, Castle Gallery, Forte Wayne, IN

 

National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society Holiday Small Works Exhibition, Cathy Kline Gallery, Parksville, MO

 

Contemporary Figuration, Abend Gallery Fine Art, Denver, CO

 

Full Sun: American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum, The Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA

 

American Women Artists 16th Annual National Juried Competition, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX

 

Women Artists of the West 50th Annual National Exhibition, Settler's West Gallery, Tucson, AZ

 

Women Artists of the West 48th Annual National Exhibition, Price Tower Arts Center, Bartlesville, OK

 

Women Artists of the West 47th Annual National Exhibition, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD

 

Women Artists of the West 45th Annual National Exhibition, Tucson Desert Art Museum, Tucson, AZ

 

The Allied Artists of America, Inc., 107th Annual Exhibition, (Online due to Covid-19)

 

The Allied Artists of America, Inc., The 100 Year Anniversary Exhibition, The Salmagundi Club, NYC

 

The Allied Artists of America, Inc., 99th Annual Exhibition, The National Arts Club, NYC

 

116th, 117th & 118th Annual Exhibitions, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, The National Arts Club, NYC

 

66th Annual Audubon Artists Exhibit, Salmagundi Art Club, NYC

 

30th National Juried Show, National Society of Artists, Houston, TX

 

42nd & 44th Annual River Road Shows, Louisiana Art & Artists' Guild, Baton Rouge, LA

 

22nd Annual Conservatory Art Classic, Bosque Conservatory, Clifton, TX

 

Richeson 75 Small Works Exhibition 2013, Kimberly, WI

 

Wichita Center for the Arts National Small Oil Painting Exhibition, Wichita, KS

 

16th National Juried Show, Art Center of Northern New Jersey, New Milford, NJ 

 

12th Annual Southworks National Juried Art Exhibition, Watkinsville, GA 

 

 

Television

 

House Hunters International,  January 5, 2017 (Season 100, Episode 12)

 

 

Publications

 

International Artist, "Portraits & Figures Competition" Dec 2019/Jan 2020

 

Voyage Houston, "Houston Arts & Culture Weekly Review" March 2018

 

Southwest Art Magazine, "I Saw it in SWA!" May 2016

 

Art of the West, "Women Artists of the West National Juried Exhibition" 2016 Guidebook

 

Art of the West, "WAOW National Exhibit" Jan/Feb 2016

 

Southwest Art Magazine, "Women Artists of the West"  10/15

 

American Art Collector, "An Enduring Tradition" 5/13

 

Southwest Art Magazine, Artistic Excellence Competition 12/12 

 

The Washinton Post, 8/10/06

 

Professional Artist Magazine (Formerly Art Calendar), 9/10

 

Visual Language, International Voices 8/12 & 9/12

 

 

Judging, Jurying & Critique Services

If you would like me to judge or jury your art competition, or provide portfolio critique services, please contact me at [email protected]

 

I have served as a judge for Senator Joel Anderson's 2015 and 2017 California Contemporary Art Competition, evaluating artworks and helping select a piece to be sent to the Capital from the Senator's district (San Diego County). Additionally, I am a certified juror for the Texas Visual Arts Scholastic Events (VASE) and judge and jury multiple art league events in Texas every year. I have served as a juror of new members for Women Artists of the West and for their national juried show. 

 

 

Affiliations

 

Oil Painters of America, Signature Member, and formerly served on the Board of Directors

 

Salmagundi Club, Elected Artist Member

 

American Women Artists, Signature Member

 

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, Signature Member

 

Women Artists of the West, Signature Member, past Board Member (Sponsorship Chair/Show Committee; Recording Secretary)

 

American Artists Professional League, Elected Artist Member

 

Portrait Society of America

 

Allied Artists of America

 

American Impressionist Society

 

National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society

 

 

Certifications

Certified juror and judge for the Texas Visual Arts Scholastic Events (VASE)