“With the dress, I discovered my voice, the dress became my soapbox from which I could initiate a dialogue, engage in political debate, question social protocol and excavate my authentic self.” — Virginia Fitzgerald
Virginia Fitzgerald is a passionate artist for whom life and art merge, which is reflected in all of her work. The objective of her art is to inspire others, urging them to think about their everyday lives, examine their surroundings, and revisit their thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. Fitzgerald achieves this through a multitude of media and series of work, one of these series being her “dressproject …”
Fitzgerald’s “dressproject …” began in 2006 in Wells Beach, ME and since then Fitzgerald has created, designed, and built over a thousand of “artdress’es.” Fitzgerald has reinterpreted the dress form in a myriad of media and materials, such as; vcr tape, rope, asphalt, ice, rubber gloves, etc. Her “dressproject …” includes sculptures, photographs, ephemeral dresses, installations, and performances. The “dressproject …” has also prompted a “dailydress …” blog, Facebook group and products, such as “dresscard’s,” featuring origami dresses with empowering quotes and messages. The “dressproject …” has led to collaborative projects where Fitzgerald works with different organizations, encouraging the participants to bring new ideas, experiences, and emotions to the project.
Fitzgerald’s “dressproject …” is relevant to the current issues being debated today. Fitzgerald sees the dress form as a symbol for one’s essential being, their core. The work speaks to the emotional or lack of emotional connection between people. This body of work touches many people regardless of gender, age, background and experiences, and Fitzgerald strives to create a safe place for them to reconsider their place in the world.
As an artist, Fitzgerald is dedicated to making art that is provocative, that makes the viewer stop and think, art that will prompt a reexamination of an idea or belief. She is a champion of passion, individuality, and inspiration. Fitzgerald works and lives outside Boston with her two daughters in a house full of love and creativity. She is constantly observing, questioning, and exploring her surroundings. To learn more about Virginia Fitzgerald please visit: