Victoria Finlay

Victoria Finlay is a journalist and author renowned for her explorations of color, jewels, and fabric through history and culture. Her acclaimed debut, "Colour: Travels Through the Paintbox," published in 2002, traces the origins of pigments worldwide, followed by "Jewels: A Secret History" in 2004. Her 2014 book, "The Brilliant History of Color in Art," was named the Huffington Post’s top art book of the year. Finlay's most recent work, "Fabric: The Hidden History of the Material World" (2021), completes a thematic trilogy examining humanity's relationship with material objects.

Finlay's career began in journalism after studying Social Anthropology and Journalism. She spent twelve years in Hong Kong as a reporter and arts editor for the South China Morning Post before leaving to pursue her passion for writing books. Her works blend meticulous research with personal narrative, often involving global travel—from Afghan lapis mines to Guatemalan cotton fields—to uncover the stories behind cultural artifacts. A recurring theme is how humans assign meaning to objects, whether through symbolism, craftsmanship, or historical significance.

Beyond her books, Finlay has contributed to publications like The Independent and Smithsonian Magazine and appeared on BBC Radio 4’s "The Museum of Curiosities." Her writing reflects a lifelong curiosity sparked in childhood, notably by the stained glass of Chartres Cathedral. While primarily known for nonfiction, she has also ventured into fiction, with a short story published in the 2014 anthology "The Stories of the Stranger." Finlay continues to explore the intersections of art, history, and material culture in her projects.