Vivian Wilson Bluett Visual Artist Portfolio
Vivian Bluett Expressionsofblue@gmail.com www.expressionsofblue.com Summary: Visual artist committed to displaying the beauty and reality of the African American community through art. Experience: The Village KC 2020 to Current Art Facilitator Connecting with students children ages 8 to 18 in an effort to get them to express their emotions through art. Black Space Black Art 2018 to Current Artist Exhibited art in black owned businesses across the city. 6 Street Documentary October 2020 Artist Shared my experience in the BLM mural project. Troost Market Collective Summer 2020 Lead Artist Responsibilities: Created a design for the Black Lives Matter street mural and lead a team in execution of the project. Education A.A. in Paralegal Studies, Kansas City College of Legal Studies, 2003
Artist’s Statement Vivian Wilson Bluett’s painting encapsulates her emotional response to her lived experience. The resulting paintings and mixed media artworks convey black childhood, innocence, joy, and hope. The range of her work evokes visceral notions similar to those found in the work of Derrick Adams, Faith Ringgold, Kerry James Marshall, Alice Neel, and Jordan Castell. These notions articulate themselves in poignant scenes of black childhood seasoned with social commentary to produce stunning artwork reflecting the strength, style, joy and power of black childhood and womanhood. Her medium of choice is acrylic with textural components. Guided by her intuition, her work is formulated with passion, gratitude, and confidence that her work presents tangible blessings to the world. “When all my work is in the same place at the same time, I hope people can understand the essence of who I am.” - Vivian Wilson Bluett
Biography A native of East Texas, but raised in Kansas City, emerging artist Vivian Wilson Bluett is the wife to Jason Bluett and a proud mother of three boys. Raised by black women, Vivian’s life and artistic practice was shaped by experiences common to the black family dynamic. Along with her mother, the youngest of five daughters, Vivian’s upbringing was heavily influenced by the black women of her family. Despite existing outside of European standards of female beauty, these women who lived lives of joy, pride and purpose. “My Aunt Flora is a huge influence in my art. She was very jazzy and stylish. She always has curves and she always knew how to wear them. She was never afraid of color. She proudly wore bright greens, yellows, oranges and reds. She could also wear beautiful earth tones. She was fashionably fearless. She was definitely in artist in that regard. She passed away in 2015 before I started painting and has never gotten to see my work. So, I create in her memory.” A lifelong artist, Vivian’s practice began with coloring books, markers and crayons. “I expressed my desire to paint to my ex-fiancé in my early 20s. Shortly after that he gifted me with an abundance of art supplies. I opened everything and played around. Put it all back in the box and didn’t open it again until almost 10 years later.” A self taught artist with the support of her family unit, Vivian’s work has evolved over time and her collector base is growing as well as her reputation within the art community.
Exhibition History 2022
Natasha Natasha Ria Art Gallery-Kansas City MO
2022
Black Archives- Kansas City, MO
2021
Grandview City Hall- Grandview MO
2021
The View Community Center- Grandview MO
2021
Jazz and the Black Aesthetics- Kansas City, MO - American Jazz Museum
2020
BLM Street Mural- Kansas City, MO
2018 to present
Black Space Black Art- Kansas City, MO (traveling gallery)
2017
Linwood YMCA Artist Showcase
Press
Work Samples