Vivia Barron is a Jamaican-born visual artist, educator, and community advocate based in St. Petersburg, Florida. With a career spanning over a decade, her work is deeply rooted in storytelling, history, and the celebration of Black joy. Inspired by a vast collection of antique photographs depicting African American life, Vivia’s artwork serves as a counter-narrative to historical trauma, focusing instead on the beauty, resilience, and cultural richness of Black experiences. Before fully embracing her artistic career, Vivia expressed her creativity through food. She worked as a chef and entrepreneur, founding and operating two successful restaurants, Vivia Kitchen and Datz, in Tampa between 2002 and 2010. However, the birth of her daughter led her to a profound artistic transformation, drawing her towards visual art as a means of honoring and preserving cultural legacies. Since 2010, Vivia has established herself as a professional artist, exhibiting her work in solo and group exhibitions across Florida. Her paintings have been acquired by private collectors, corporate institutions, and public organizations, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in both Tampa and Hollywood, FL, as well as public schools in St. Petersburg. Her distinctive style, which blends historical imagery with contemporary themes, continues to captivate audiences and spark meaningful conversations. Beyond her artistic practice, Vivia is dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion within the arts. In 2022, she founded We Art St. Pete, a nonprofit initiative designed to support and amplify the work of BIPOC artists. Through We Art St. Pete, she provides professional development, exhibition opportunities, and community engagement programs, ensuring that Black artists have access to the mainstream art world while enriching the cultural landscape of St. Petersburg and beyond. Vivia’s latest endeavor includes launching an online learning platform through Teachable, where she shares her expertise and experience with emerging and established artists. Her courses focus on artistic development, professional practices, and strategies for thriving in the art industry. Her work has been featured in multiple high-profile exhibitions, public installations, and collections, reinforcing her reputation as a dynamic artist and advocate for cultural representation in the arts. Whether through painting, education, or community initiatives, Vivia Barron continues to use her platform to inspire, uplift, and create meaningful change. Website: www.viviabarron.com Instagram & Facebook: @viviabarronart We Art St. Pete: www.weartstpete.org