Renowned artist and graphic designer, James Victore, greeted the students in the UVU Grand Ballroom with a “howdy.” He spoke candidly to students about art, life, and his new book.
As part of the AVC Lectures class, hosted in part by AIGA, Victore was invited to spend an evening on Jan. 20, speaking to students and giving a more intimate series of workshops for students and professionals the following day.
Art students from across Utah were invited to attend the lecture, even students from neighboring states made their way to UVU to meet him.
Victore started his education at the School of Visual Arts in New York and after a semester, he was asked to leave. Though James never graduated from college, his message to students was a bit more encouraging.
He said, “I hope that all of you work really damn hard and do you homework so you can have this opportunity as well, because it’s not that hard. If I can do it, they could probably train a lab monkey to do it.”
As soon as Victore left school at the age of 21, he started designing book covers professionally. He spoke of his struggle as a designer and finding his niche in a growing market.
During his lecture Victore noted the importance of having intent and being true to yourself. He also noted the growing need to create and act with intent.
“The world has been changed often with images and music and poetry. I like that idea.”
Victore believes in visual communication and sees design as a way to communicate ideas that are taboo in public.
“I’m trying to tell the truth, and sometimes it’s ugly,” he says. His political work is sometimes considered controversial, but his ideas leave a lasting impression.
He says, “I’m very happy to do a job and get paid, but that’s not using me at my best, that’s not using us at our best.”
Victore’s clients include Moët & Chandon, Target, Amnesty International, the Shakespeare Project, The New York Times, and MTV. Victore’s posters are housed in the permanent collections of the Palais du Louvre, the Library of Congress, Museum für Gestaltung, and the Museum of Modern Art.
For more information visit www.JamesVictore.com
