Meet Vivian
You might recognize Vivian from a First Friday event or exhibition opening. As a gallery attendant, she greets guests and educates them on the Studios Inc mission and programming. Vivian is also a Studio Assistant for Artist in Residence, Harold Smith, and with his studio located just outside our offices we are pleased to see her any day of the week! Studios Inc intern Jaede Bayala recently met with Vivian to learn about her own art practice, Expressions of Blue.
-Mallory Edson, Marketing and Communications Manager
Vivian Bluett is a self-taught artist local to Kansas City. She creates acrylic paintings with themes of black childhood and childhood daydreams. Bluett is interested in creating a safe space through her paintings that are ideal for a kid, saying, “There are a lot of us who have not completely grown up on the inside because we still have some hurt children that live within us. So the conversation becomes about going to get that hurt child and letting that child know that they are now safe and you can grow up.” Vivian also has pieces that speak to civil rights problems. The artist appreciates every reaction one of her paintings may elicit whether it be the want to have a conversation or even uncomfortableness. Family is a key element of Vivian’s practice. When first beginning to paint she was heavily supported by her husband and two kids. Bluett says, "I'm appreciative of their support because they've never made me feel guilty (about art).” Vivian aims to continue to be an active member of the Kansas City art community and has a goal of branching out into turning her art into merchandise such as coffee mugs and notebooks.
