We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brian Velazquez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brian below.

Brian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I am happier as an Artist. For many years I lived in New Jersey working as a fedex delivery driver, the money was great but I was never satisfied knowing that my talents in art where going to waste. So I saved my money and took a leap of faith in pursue of a life I could look back and be proud of.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Brian Velazquez, many know me as the artist ‘B.V. Cooper’. I am currently the ‘ALAPTS Artist in Residence’ in Tampa for American landmark Apartments Artist in Residence program. Its a goverment sponcered program designed to facilitate artist into communities to stir up interest in the arts and create UNITY in the community. I host Free art classes once a week in exchange for a housing opportunity and art studio space to express my creativity.

My personal work often revolves around painting beautiful women in dreamscapes often pictured in clouds surrounded by stars, My aim to evoke feelings of peace and pleasantness when people view my work. I want them to see themselves in my paintings as a momentary escape from the realities of life. That feeling you get when you go to the movies and the outside world ceases to exist if only for a moment.

I was born in the Bronx New York in 1989. Since I was a young I always excelled in art. It was for me a hobby. In high school my classmates gave me the nickname “The Professor” saying I was better at art then our Art teacher…I never actually thought I would become a professor myself one day. After highschool I studied Business Marketing in college and wasted many years of my life while working 9-5 jobs. I worked many odd jobs trying to make ends meet…auto body shops, shoe salesman, Delivery driver, I even worked for a funeral home transfering the deceased to the morgue, all the meanwhile passively working on paintings. Eventually I moved to Florida in 2020 where I started my career as a full time freelance artist making commissioned art pieces and building my portfolio as an Artist. In 2021 I applied and was accepted as the Artist in Residents for a location in Tampa.

I am truly proud of the success of my art classes. I began teaching a small group of 6 students and now host classes of 20 on a weekly basis. Seeing my students bond with one another and form close friendships has been a true pleasure. Each week this community of people grows and friendships are created. I am teaching basic art techniques to my students, but what is more important is creating a space for ALL people to bond no matter your background.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I have a one year contract as the Artist in residence in my community, when my residency is up in april I want to leave here knowing that the community can sustain its Unity with the friendships and bonds created in the walls of my art class here. I also aim to bring this experience to other communities.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew about Artist residency programs much sooner. I know now how important the Arts programs are for creating peace and unity in this world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @b.v.cooper