About Vivia

Vivia Barron is an entrepreneur and author whose work bridges creativity, strategy, and ownership. She is the author of The Artist Breakthrough Mindset and A Line in the Sand, built from lived experience and real-world proven business strategies for those ready to move from hesitation into authority.

Her work has been featured nationally, including a full-cover feature in the Tampa Bay Times. She has also appeared in Hilary Van Dyke’s documentary A Splash of Color: Getting Black in the Water and on broadcast media including NBC/WFLA’s Daytime Tampa and CBS.

Vivia is the founder of We Art Mindset, a platform centered on clarity, positioning, and self-ownership. Her work is held in both public and private collections, including commissions for the Seminole Hard Rock Hotels in Hollywood and Tampa, the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, and St. Petersburg public schools.

She is a City of St. Petersburg Individual Artist Grant recipient and a grant recipient of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.

At the core of her work is one belief: your story is your business, and clarity is the first form of power.

Accomplishments

Artist & Exhibitor — Jamaican-born visual artist with solo shows and dozens of group exhibitions. Work held in public and private collections including Hard Rock Hotel Hollywood Guitar Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel Tampa, the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, St. Petersburg public schools, and private collections.

Her exhibition The Right to Swim was featured in a full cover section of the Tampa Bay Times, a nationally recognized newspaper. Barron has also been featured in Hilary Van Dyke’s documentary A Splash of Color: Getting Black in the Water and in broadcast media including NBC and CBS.

Arts Leadership & Advocacy — Member, City of St. Petersburg Arts Council. Advocate for equitable artist representation and visibility; grant recipient, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. Founder of We Art, which evolved into a management agency and development platform securing major grant funding and creating opportunities for BIPOC artists.

Author — A Line in the Sand and additional published works on strategy, positioning, growth, and execution.

Business Strategy & Positioning — Consultant for entrepreneurs and professionals; specializing in market identification, visibility, and scaling.

Marketing, PR & Social Media Strategy — Campaign strategy, brand positioning, cross-channel communications, content systems, and online ad campaigns (paid social/search).

Restaurant Ownership & Consulting — Co-founded and co-owned Dat’s Restaurant in Tampa (multi-million-dollar venture). Founded Vivia’s Kitchen and Nutritious Tables catering. Business consultant for Eat Art Love restaurant in St. Petersburg: managed opening from concept to launch, including staffing, menus, POS systems, and full operational playbook.

Grant Writing & Consultation — Secured major funding for We Art St. Pete and wrote successful grants for clients including Jennifer Ligaya. Certified in grant writing and consultation.

Strategic Partnerships — Collaborations with The Greenhouse of St. Petersburg and peer organizations.

Professional Training —

Studied Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Atlanta (now part of SCAD), where she built early foundations in visual storytelling and design.
Professional training in public relations, communications, marketing, and sales, with multiple certifications supporting her dual career as artist and strategist.