Celebrating 40 Years of Mural Arts: An Interview with Ayiana Viviana

As Mural Arts Philadelphia continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey of this organization and its profound impact on the community. To mark this milestone, we sat down with Ayiana Viviana, an abstract visual artist whose work, as part of this year’s Mural Arts Month, embodies the spirit of this year’s theme, “Roots & Reimagination.”

Through her creative journey and collaboration with Mural Arts, Ayiana shares her insights on the power of art, the importance of community, and her hopes for the future.

The Significance of Being Part of the 40th Anniversary Celebration
For Ayiana, participating in Mural Arts’ 40th anniversary is a deeply meaningful experience. “First of all, it’s such a big deal. I don’t know how to properly explain it,” she begins. Coincidentally, Ayiana is also turning 40 this year, with her birthday falling in October, which is Mural Arts Month. This alignment felt purposeful to her. “When Chad (Senior Director of Communications and Brand Management) reached out to me about the opportunity immediately, I was like, this feels very purposeful. This feels very aligned.”

Ayiana reflects on her childhood in North Philadelphia, where public art was often the only art accessible to her. “I remember being a kid and, you know, going around my neighborhood and seeing murals. At that time, I grew up in a household where we didn’t have access to art. So public art was really the only art that I had access to.” This early exposure to art cultivated her appreciation for it and influenced her artistic journey. “It just feels almost surreal to be able to have this experience, to work with Mural Arts in this way,” she says, adding that the opportunity feels affirming, especially in moments when imposter syndrome kicks in.

Creating for the Roots & Reimagination Theme

Ayiana’s process of creating her piece for the Roots & Reimagination theme was both exciting and challenging. “I wanted to do something that I had gotten the color palette, which was very different from any other color palette that I had ever worked with. And I was like, okay, this is interesting. Very bright, vibrant colors.” Despite the initial unfamiliarity with the colors, Ayiana embraced the challenge.

She began by allowing her signature free-flowing lines to guide her. “I did five pieces in total just to offer more options. The lines I started to create were forming different things. In one of the pieces, it was a caterpillar. In another piece, it was an apple.” Ayiana incorporated elements that Chad communicated to her, such as the significance of the 40th anniversary. “In some of the pieces, you’ll see 40 circles representing 1984,” she explains.

Ayiana’s intention was to create something vibrant and colorful that reflected what Mural Arts represents for Philadelphia. “There’s so much artwork all across the city in all different types of communities because of Mural Arts. I wanted whatever piece I made to be reflective of that.”

Her process involved sitting with the idea and energy of Roots and Reimagination before starting the lines. “With neurographic line work, it’s like whatever is in your brain, that’s what comes out. So I wanted to give my brain time to sit with that theme, sit with the idea of roots and reimagination and what that means to me, what that means for Mural Arts, what that means for Philly. And then from there, I just allowed it to flow.”

As part of Mural Arts Month, Ayiana’s design was featured on the label of the 2023 Mural Arts Sparkling Rosé, a special collaboration of Mural Arts and Mural City Cellars.  This Rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes sourced in the Lehigh Valley. It’s a lovely wine reminiscent of candied orange peel, fresh citrus, and strawberries! Vivacious acidity and complex fruit tones. The sales of this co-branded wine will contribute to the vibrant public art scene in the city of Philadelphia. Only made 100 cases of this wine for this project, so it’s very limited. The winery will also sell the Mural Arts Month-themed wine, donating 15% per bottle for every sale.

Influences and Inspirations

Ayiana Viviana draws inspiration from the world around her, especially from her conversations with people and the emotions she processes through her art. One of her notable pieces, “Todos están azul” (Everyone is Blue), was inspired by the idea that everyone faces hardships. Ayiana says, “Nobody’s life is perfect. Everybody has things that they struggle with.” The piece, dominated by blue hues, captures the universal heaviness and challenges of the world today. For Ayiana, creating art is a form of emotional processing, and she finds inspiration in nature’s beauty, human kindness, and stories of resilience.

Todos están azul’ explores the emotional depths of shared struggles through a monochromatic blue palette, capturing the universal weight of hardship.

Impact and Future Aspirations

When asked about the impact she hopes her art will have on viewers and the community, Ayiana emphasizes the importance of connection and self-discovery. “I hope that my art allows people to access something inside of them that maybe hasn’t always felt accessible,” she explains. By sharing the stories behind her pieces, Ayiana hopes to create a space where people feel seen and understood. She believes everyone has a creative space within them that can be tapped into for self-expression and healing.

Looking ahead, Ayiana’s future goals as an artist revolve around creating programs and workshops that help people connect more deeply with themselves. She passionately believes in the healing power of art and wants to share this gift with others. “I want people to know that art can help us process a lot of things we might not always know how to process,” she says. Ayiana is excited about upcoming projects, including a residency at Tacony Art Labs and a show at the Moody Jones Gallery in Glenside.

The vivid yellow lines and geometric patterns of ‘Bloque de Oro,’ inspired by the yellow sidewalk lines, highlight the beauty found in everyday urban landscapes.

Collaboration and Reflection

Collaborating with Mural Arts and other organizations has been a transformative experience for Ayiana. These partnerships have challenged her to think outside the box and be more intentional with her creations. One memorable collaboration was a project with Comcast for Hispanic Heritage Month, where she created a piece called “Bloque de Oro” (Block of Gold). This project pushed her to incorporate new elements and colors into her work, breaking away from her usual style.

Reflecting on her most memorable experience as an artist, Ayiana recounts a live painting event at Penn’s Landing for the Wawa Welcome America Festival. She created an abstract Puerto Rican flag, which sparked meaningful conversations and connections with the community. Despite a storm that interrupted the event, Ayiana felt a deep sense of gratitude and connection to her culture and community. “It was a really beautiful moment,” she recalls. “Being surrounded by my people, listening to the language, and creating art together was incredible.”

Curating “Latinas in Philly: These Are Our Stories”

This past April, Ayiana curated her first show at iMPeRFeCT Gallery titled “Latinas in Philly: These Are Our Stories.” The exhibition highlighted the experiences and narratives of Latinas in Philadelphia through a powerful collection of artworks. The show was a significant milestone in Ayiana’s career, and she hopes to continue curating and showcasing the rich stories of underrepresented communities. You can view a photo recap of the show, captured by photographer Ileana Marie, here.

Advice for Aspiring Artists

For aspiring artists, Ayiana emphasizes the importance of consistency and connection. She advises, “Be consistent. Whatever helps you get to that place of consistency, even if it’s practicing every day, will help you grow.” She also highlights the significance of being deeply connected to what you create, as this energy will resonate with others. Ayiana’s journey shows that dedication and passion can lead to remarkable growth and success.

Connecting with Roots

Art has helped Ayiana connect with her roots on a profound level. Through her creations, she processes her personal experiences and traumas, allowing her to nurture positive aspects and remove negative influences from her life. “Art has allowed me to nurture my roots in a very healthy way,” she explains. This journey of self-discovery and healing is a testament to the transformative power of art.

Joy of Being an Artist

What Ayiana enjoys most about being an artist is the freedom and adventure it brings. She loves that each day is different and filled with new opportunities and interactions. “Art has provided me with a space where every day is an adventure,” she says. The excitement of not knowing what each day will bring and the joy of creating something new continues to inspire her.

Conclusion

As Mural Arts Philadelphia celebrates its 40th anniversary, we honor artists like Ayiana Viviana, who have contributed to its legacy. Through their creativity, resilience, and passion, they have enriched our community and inspired countless individuals. As we look to the future, we remain excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead, confident that art will continue to be a powerful catalyst for transformation and unity in our city.

Here’s to 40 years of creativity, collaboration, and community – and to many more years of vibrant murals that tell our stories and shape our future.

To explore more of Ayiana Viviana’s captivating artwork and learn about her upcoming projects, visit her official website at www.ayianaviviana.com. Discover how her art continues to inspire and connect with communities, and stay updated on her future exhibitions and creative endeavors.