Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayiana Viviana

Hi Ayiana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

Being a visual artist was never really something I saw myself doing or pursuing. However, in September of 2022, I was experiencing internal challenges that my normal means of purging and expression did not alleviate. I remember there being a voice in my mind telling me that I was the problem and if I eliminated myself, there would be no problem. However, there was a second voice telling me to pick up a paintbrush and canvas. The proverbial angel and devil on each shoulder, so to speak. Thankfully, I listened to the voice that encouraged a new means of expression and from that, the life I am currently living was born.

2023 was my first full year of visual artistry. As an aspiring artist, I set a goal for myself to exhibit my work in at least 10 different spaces. At the end of 2023, the number of places where I was able to display my work, ended up reaching 35. I was able to partner with Mural Arts, Comcast, Vayner Media, Accenture, Rec Philly, The Philadelphia Horticultural Society, and many others. I learned a lot about myself as a person and a creative being. I learned that I’m capable of more than I realize. I learned that I’m never too old to pivot. I learned that a new dream can be born from immense pain and struggle. I learned that there is nothing I can’t do when I fully dedicate myself to a thing. I learned to finish what I start. I learned to bet on myself and to keep promises to myself.

Overall, my journey as a visual artist has unlocked a part of my existence that I had subdued and quieted due to childhood traumas and misinformed ideas about who I was. I’m grateful to art and all of its many expressions, for being a source of creative expression and for allowing me a space to lay things down outside of my physical and emotional being. Being able to use art to transmute pain and to also use it as a means of expressing joy has given me a deeper sense of purpose and connection to both my humanity and that of others.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

The question of whether or not this has been a smooth road is an interesting one. In many ways, I believe the process of creating visual art is one of the easiest things I’ve experience. It comes from a place of flow and feels very effortless. However, in the process of becoming this version of myself, I’ve had to release a lot of things that no longer feel aligned with the version of myself I am shaping and creating. Personally, there have been a lot of struggles, including a separation from an 18 year marriage and the complete re-shifting of what my future will look like. In late 2023, when I first separated from the person I thought I would spend the rest of my life with, my life was an emotional roller coaster. Professionally, and from the outside looking in, things in my life were going excellently. However, I spent many days laying in bed, despondent, and wondering if I wanted to continue living. In November of 2023, I even went as far as writing letters to my family and children, saying final goodbyes.

Thankfully, with the support of my community, I was able to rise from that dark place. There have been waves of grief that come intermittently but I find myself being fortified in my internal being and able to better withstand the waves when they do come.

I’m learning that life and healing is never linear. That the challenges and struggles will come, but how we respond to them is what determines whether we rise to our fullest potential or repeat old patterns that no longer serve us. Leaning into communal support has also helped me tremendously along the way. I have a clear understanding that without the love, support, and encouragement from my community, I would not be where I am today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I’m an abstract visual artist and I utilize neurographic lines in my artwork to bring forth things that are hidden in my subconscious mind to the surface. This is a fairly new form of art that has existed for approximately 10 years. One of my favorite things about creating in the way that I do is asking people what they see in my work. This is a beautiful and proven method for me to understand the person I’m engaging with, as their interpretation of the work gives me clearer insight into their psyche and who they are. That in turn, allows me to offer whatever wisdoms I’ve been offered by life in a way that makes my work also feel like service to others.

I’m most proud of my resilience. There have been so many negative things that have happened in my life and so many reasons for me to stop, but there is an indomitable strength inside of me that refuses to quit, that continues to seek and search and grow and plant seeds of hope for my future. As a teenage mother, statistics say that I shouldn’t be where I am today, yet and still, here I am. Most recently, I curated my first art show at iMPeRFeCT gallery and in that show, I was able to create space for my daughter who is also an artist and photographer, to exhibit her work in a gallery setting. There was a moment of extreme pride when that occurred.

I don’t believe in the philosophy of setting myself apart from others. I believe greatness exists inside all of us and when it’s properly watered and cultivated, we can all shine in beautiful and brilliantly different ways.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.

I think risks are absolutely necessary for growth. I recently took what felt like a major risk when I said yes to curating my first exhibition at iMPeRFeCT gallery. I had zero experiential knowledge and learned quickly after my yes, how much work was involved in curating a show from start to finish. There’s hand selecting each artist AND hand selecting each piece of art that’s shown. There’s administrative tasks, communication and organization skills. When I said yes, I was taking the risk of falling flat on my face because I had no prior experience to let me know this was something I could do successfully. However, the show was an incredible success. 15 Latinas from Philly had their work showcased and there were concurring events that took place during the run of the exhibition that proved to be healing and deeply communal for everyone involved. I created a space that allowed others to express and tell parts of their stories through a large interactive art installation. Had I not taken the risk and said yes, I wouldn’t have learned that curating was something I deeply enjoy. Doing it also provided a broader scope of how my art and creativity can be impactful on a larger scale.

Another risk I took recently was giving an organization that wanted to partner with me, a proposed cost for a project. It’s a number I would have never dared to ask for a year ago. However, I decided to take the risk and ask for what I felt my talent and time was worth. The end result of that negotiation was favorable and really taught me to not allow fear to dictate how I move.

As I mentioned earlier, I think risks are a very important part of growth and learning to feel the energy of fear but still being able to take the risk and jump is incredibly valuable to forward growth and movement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ayianaviviana.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayianaviviana/

Image Credits

David Coleman
Ileana Marie
Julian Moore-Griffin