Meet Breya Barber | Artist & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Breya Barber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Breya, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I was little, I’ve had a passion for creating, whether through drawing or building. I would constantly beg my mom for new Lego sets, and as soon as my little brother was old enough, I would try to build his Legos before he could. Any old cereal box or toilet paper roll around the house would become a key component in my next cardboard creation. Drawing came naturally to me, starting in elementary school. I began with practicing my signature and drawing box and bubble letters. Eventually, my niche became recreating pictures and cartoons. The challenge of achieving my goal and having the finished piece drove me to draw even more. In 2020, I had a transformative experience while looking for something fun to do with my cousin. She had some canvases and acrylic paint, and that night I painted for the first time, which changed everything for me. During the COVID-19 pandemic, painting became my safe space. It was calming, therapeutic, and gave me a sense of accomplishment each time I tackled a new piece. I painted for a year straight before selling my first painting during my freshman year of college. While I still paint for myself, I’ve expanded to painting canvases for friends, selling reprints, and even painting denim pants. This new venture began when my best friend asked for a pair of painted jeans for her birthday. It was my first time using fabric paint, and I was pleasantly surprised by the results. For the past two years, I’ve been challenged to create even more intricate and detailed designs. In addition to my physical creations, I also pursue my artistic career through various marketing roles in school clubs, where I create flyers, posters, and occasionally design logos as a digital designer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a rising senior at UC Berkeley, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I chose this major not solely for my love of math and science, but because it perfectly combines my passions for building and designing. What sets me apart as an engineer is my ability to approach problems from a unique perspective, integrating creativity with technical skills. Engineering, to me, is not just about numbers and equations but about innovative problem-solving.

The field’s breadth allows me to explore various sub-categories such as 3D modeling, mechanics, coding, product development, and electronics. I extract the artistic aspects that resonate with me and incorporate them into my ideal role. My internship experiences have been a journey of trial and error, where I’ve learned valuable skills despite some roles not aligning with my long-term career goals. I view each experience as a learning opportunity.

My goal is to continue in the engineering field, ensuring that art and design are integral to my work. The most significant lesson I’ve learned in my early professional life is that your career is what you make of it. Even when there is no clear path, or if what you want to do hasn’t been done before, you have the power to create it for yourself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My life is currently split between Northern and Southern California, and in both I now have a sense of home. Being a South Central LA native there are definitely key spots around the city I would have on the itinerary. One of my favorite things to do at home is to go to the beach. Santa Monica offers a lively pier with rides and arcades, Venice boasts a vibrant boardwalk, and Dockweiler is perfect for bonfire pits. Despite the recent price increase, Roscoes is a staple in the community where I would take anyone for the best chicken and waffles. My favorite thing about living in the Bay Area that LA does not have is the greenery and the beautiful views. finding scenic spots in Berkeley with my friends is at the top of my list. I find looking at the ocean or seeing the city for high up makes me and my problems feel so small in a way that is very comforting and peaceful. Additionally, Berkeley and San Francisco have excellent thrifting spots where I’ve found some of my best pieces.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out my best friend Brook! We met in college being on the same dance team and our friendship has to continued to grow. We now live together and as two creatives it has been so special bouncing ideas off each other and challenging each other to continuing creating in our respective fields and together.

Instagram: brxyaaa & brushedbybreya

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breyabarber