Artist Victoria “ThirteenVic” has unveiled her latest work as part of Introspective, a group exhibition currently on view at Elevated Thought. The multidisciplinary creative — known for her evocative use of symbolism across illustration, painting, and design — introduced the piece via Instagram, where she shared clips and images of the artwork alongside a deeply personal caption.
Titled Hypervigilance, the 48″x60″ acrylic-on-wood-panel painting serves as both a visual and emotional meditation on the long-term effects of learned defensiveness. According to the artist, the work “explores the emotional toll of always anticipating harm,” a state shaped by past experiences and traumas.
The painting features chain-link fencing and barbed wire encircling the central composition — imagery ThirteenVic uses to depict the invisible boundaries people often construct to feel safe. Bicycle wheels, another repeated motif, nod to the cyclical nature of mistrust and defensiveness.
“This work honors the body’s instinct to protect, while gently questioning the cost,” ThirteenVic wrote in the caption. “What connections do we block when we’re always on guard? What might we find if we searched for safety instead of threat?”
Introspective brings together a variety of artists at Elevated Thought, a nonprofit organization focused on creative youth development and social justice through art and education. The exhibit showcases pieces that engage with inner reflection, personal history, and collective healing — themes that Hypervigilance speaks to directly.
ThirteenVic closed her announcement with a brief note to her community: “All I can say is, love y’all.”
For more information on the exhibition and upcoming events, visit Elevated Thought’s official channels.
