ABOUT ME
Bio
Vivian Cavalieri is a visual artist with a studio on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Her three-dimensional miniature scenes prompt conversations on a range of global issues including immigration and social justice. Her work has appeared in numerous group exhibitions in the US and abroad, including Los Angeles, Paris, Venice, and Rome. She was long-listed for the 2024 Visual Art Open and short-listed for the 2024 John Richardson French Residency Award. Recent publications include Suboart (December 2023), Art Seen (February 2024), Modern Renaissance Magazine (July 2024), and the Summer 2024 issues of Collect Art and Forget-Me-Not Press (Wretched). Cavalieri graduated from Harvard University (BA, Fine Arts) and the New York University School of Law. She is represented by Hambly & Hambly Gallery, Northern Ireland, UK.
Artist Statement
I am a conceptual artist creating three-dimensional mixed media scenes that spark conversations on topics such as immigration, climate change, and social justice.
Inspired by Joseph Cornell's shadowboxes and the ancient tradition of hidden messages in art, I began inserting segments of necklaces I designed into small-scale, symbolic assemblages constructed with dollhouse miniatures, fabrics, and other commercially manufactured items. Though the manufactured items may seem impersonal, they are symbolic, with deeply personal meanings.
Rather than criticize or preach, I invite dialogue, fostering awareness and empathy by highlighting common challenges. I encourage viewers to engage with the small-scale scenes, framed with museum glass, which creates the illusion of being present at the scene. When converting assemblages into installations, I invite viewers not only to approach but to become fully immersed in the experience. Through this immersive experience, my intention is to cultivate a deeper understanding of the universal human experiences that connect us.