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Bria Miller (they/she) is a Queer, African Nova Scotian multidisciplinary visual artist and designer born + raised in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, currently residing and creating within Kjipuktuk (Halifax), Nova Scotia.

 

Additionally, she has worked as a curator, graphic facilitator, community organizer, a DJ, and poet amongst many other odd art jobs since moving to Halifax in 2011. Self-taught and propelled by curiosity, she has been pursuing digital art creation increasingly, with a growing interest and skills in branding, promotional design, book illustration, animation and storytelling using dynamic visuals over the past 5+ years. Yearning to utilize her illustration skills in new ways to elevate concepts, her practice and means of expression further, she is thrilled by opportunities to support clients with a wide range of design needs. Over 2022, Bria's goal is to create and collaborate as much as possible while growing a network of new and returning clientele for Bria Makes Things' services.

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Bria’s artwork has been on display on public buildings, published online and in print in newspapers, educational resources, novels, textbooks, and more. For the past four years her artwork in the form of stickers, art prints, t-shirts, keychains, and original paintings have been available and sold on her online shop and in a growing amount of public spaces and businesses including but not limited to Halifax Convention Centre, Alteregos Cafe, Glitter Bean Cafe, Bus Stop Theatre, Venus Envy (Halifax and Ottawa), Hounds of Vintage, Propellor, Good Robot, Elizabeth Fry Society, the Khyber Centre for the Arts, and Halifax Public Libraries. She has been an art vendor during dozens of community events, festivals, and venues such as Taking BLK Gottingen markets, Taking BLK History, PEI’s Art in the Open festival, Nocturne Art At Night, Halifax Zine Fairs, North by Night Markets, Hfx Pop Explosion, and more. Passionate not only about making art but the community of artists surrounding her, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bria also co-founded Taking BLK Gottingen and Takin’ BLK History markets in Halifax, alongside Kordeena Clayton and is seeking more opportunities to expand where she sells her product. 

Artist CV

This CV has been edited to only include a relevant amount of my experience.

If you have additional questions about my experience, please contact me to inquire further.

Education
2011-13 BA, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax NS

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Select Awards & Recognition

2022 Amplifying Voices Audio & Listing on Virgin Radio & Website, Virgin Radio

2022 Nominated for 'Best Visual Artist' Category for Best of Halifax, The Coast Awards

2021 Canadian Mental Health Association listing of IBPOC Mental Health Database, Khyber Centre for the Arts

2021 2nd runner up for National Lacey Prize, Khyber Centre for the Arts

2021 Collaborator Award for co-founding Takin' BLK Gottingen Markets, North End Business Association

2021 “Congratulations & Thanks” from MLA Lisa Robertson on Province House Record for Taking BLK Gottingen involvement during Assembly 63: Third Session at Province House Debates & Proceedings

2021 Delmore Buddy Daye Institute’s Annual 'Ancestral Root Award for Visual Art'

2021 Black Art At Night, recognition feature article by I’thandi Munroe, Nocturne2020 3rd place in ‘Best Visual Artist of the Year’ category, The Coast Magazine

2020 Nomination for Creative Community Impact Award for CARE Project programming, Khyber Centre for the Arts 2016 4th Wall: Justice, Art & Youth Grant 

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Select Arts Administration, Event Planning & Facilitation Experience

2018-2022 Deep Rest Retreat, Organizer & Co-Host with Kate Macdonald of the Magic Project

2022 Graphic Facilitator, National Black Canadian Summit for CBC East Coast, Halifax Convention Centre

2022 Invitation to Rest Retreat, Tatamagouche Centre, Retreat Co-host
2020-2022 Co-Director, The Khyber Centre for the Arts

2022 Graphic facilitator, Community Sector of Nova Scotia's Day of Recognition Award Ceremony, Lighthouse Arts Centre

2022 Graphic facilitator, Pride & Politics Panel for Quadrangle Newfoundland
2020 Organizer/Co-founder/Graphic Design, Taking BLK Gottingen Markets
2020 Curator, Arts Nova Scotia’s Creative Annual Awards Gala Pre-show Performances
2020 Graphic artist, Meeting Waters with Ingrid Waldron, Nocturne

2017-2018 DRIPPY: Closed BIPOC Dance Parties, Lead Organizer, Co-host with Kate Macdonald + Performing DJ, Khyber Centre for the Arts
2016-2020 Graphic Recorder, Brave Space

  • For dozens of events over the years, many different applications, and many sectors of organizations and businesses. Can elaborate and provide samples of this past graphic work if it is of interest.​

2019 Project Assistant and Featured artist/performer, Mi’kma’ki 2030: Hope and Fire, Mayworks Festival
2019 Graphic Facilitator, Feed Nova Scotia’s Day of Sharing
2019 Graphic Facilitator, Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Zoom Conference
2018-20 Program Coordinator, CARE project, The Khyber Centre for the Arts
2018 Graphic Facilitator/Organizer, IBPOC Art Nights/Of Heart and History Program, Wonder’neath Studio, Heartwood Centre for Community Youth Development
2018 Graphic Recorder, KUUMBA Cultural Project for Delmore Buddy Daye Institute
2017 Graphic Recorder, Public engagement tour, NS School Board for Commission on Inclusive Education
2017-18 Graphic Facilitator and curriculum consultant, Dalhousie Sustainability Leadership Training Program with Co-Lab
2017 Graphic Facilitator/Organizer, Loosen Up & Start Talking Program at Heartwood Centre for Community Youth Development
2017 Graphic Recorder, ‘Creative Cities’ Conference with The Michaelle Jean Foundation, Action Plan launch celebration
2017 Graphic Facilitator, “Makerspace Is The Place’ workshop for ‘Black Libraries Matter’ residency by Shaya Ishaq, The Khyber Centre For the Arts
2016-17 Graphic Facilitator/Organizer/Planner, 'Justice, Art and Youth in Action Initiative'’s Peace forums across Nova Scotia with Youth Art Connection and Michaelle Jean Foundation:

  • Halifax (Celebrating Black Nova Scotian Youth Leadership),

  • Wolfville (Diminishing Incidence of Violence and Discrimination Against LGBTQIAP+ and Two-Spirit Nova Scotians),

  • Eskasoni (Advancing Indigenous Rights & Reconcilitation in Nova Scotia),

  • Antigonish (Diminishing Incidence of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexualized Violence in Nova Scotia) 

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Select Exhibitions & Residencies 

2020 ISANS Artist in Residence, Illustrations & Design for Black History Month Interactive Map
2017-18 Wonder’Neath Artist Residency, Wonder’Neath Arts Society Halifax, NS 2017 ARTpreneurs Launch Party Exhibit, The Bridge Halifax, NS
2017 Wish 150 Display, Macphee Centre Halifax, NS
2017 We Are The Griots, Anna Leonowens Gallery Halifax, NS
2017 StART Festival, Alterego’s Cafe Halifax, NS
2017 Working While Black Group Exhibit, Bus Stop Theatre Halifax, NS 2017 Wish 150, MacPhee Centre Dartmouth, NS
2016 ‘Bria Makes Things’ Exhibit, Alteregos Cafe Halifax, NS
2016 Justice Ministers and Executive Assistants of NS Luncheon, AGNS Halifax, NS
2016 4th Wall: Justice, Art & Youth Exhibition, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Halifax, NS
2016 'Creative Resilience' Solo Art Opening, Alteregos Cafe Halifax, NS 

 

Select Commissions & Contracts
2021 Illustrator, Holiday Card Display at Halifax Convention Centre & Rogers Centre
2021 Illustrator/Graphic Designer, Black History Month Scholarship T-shirt Designs, tRev Clothing, Delmore Buddy Daye Institute, Infinitus
2021 Illustrator/Graphic Designer, Campaign art for Councillor Lindell Smith’s 2021 campaign
2021 Illustrator/Graphic Designer, ISANS African History Month Social Media Content & Interactive Map 
2020 Illustrator/Graphic designer, Meeting Waters Zoom Nocturne panel with Ingrid Waldron and guest artists
2018-19 Performer, Mi’kma’ki 2030: Hope and Fire, Mayworks Festival
2021 Illustrator/Animator, CBC’s ‘Owning It’ Video Series
2021 Graphic Designer, CKDU Fundraiser T-shirt Design
2020 Illustrator/Graphic Designer, Promotion for Meeting Waters: Cross-Cultural Collaboration On Environmental Racism, Nocturne
2020-present Graphic Designer, Taking BLK Gottingen Market Promotions
2019 Illustrator/Graphic Designer, Creating Communities of Care Program, Status of Women Canada, Elizabeth Fry Society, Association of Black Social Workers
2018 Mural with Julia Hutt, Alteregos Cafe 
2017 Graphic Designer, T-shirt designs for Halifax Pop Explosion 

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Select Artist Talks & Panels

2022 Film introduction of my animated short 'Home' during Adult Portion of Animation Festival Halifax, Halifax, NS
2021 Accessibility Panel with Kinetic Studios, Halifax Public Libraries Halifax, NS
2021 10th Animation Festival of Halifax Halifax, NS
2020 Art Pays Me Podcast Interview with Duane Jones Halifax, NS
2020 Creative NS Award Gala Pre-Show Halifax, NS
2019 Black Coffee Sessions at Mount Saint Vincent University Halifax, NS
2018 Performer and Project Assistant, Mi’kma’ki 2030, Nocturne Halifax, NS
2018 Art in the Open Festival Charlottetown, PEI 
2018 Bria Makes Things’ Artist Talk, Wonder’Neath Halifax, NS 2018 OBEY Convention Conversation with ONO Halifax, NS
2018 Canadian Women’s Foundation Conference Montreal, QC 2017 Many Hands, Many Voices Conference Fredericton, NB
2017 ‘Working While Black’ artist talk, Bus Stop Theatre Halifax, NS
2017 Black History Month Artist Talk, NSCC Akerley Campus Dartmouth, NS 2017 Lecture for El Jone’s Art History NSCAD Class Halifax, NS
2017 Canada Art Gallery Educators National Panel Sydney, NS
2017 Justice, Art and Youth in Action Provincial Peace Forums (4) Eskasoni, Wolfville, Antigonish, Halifax, NS
2017 We Are The Griots Halifax, NS
2017 Black Cultural Centre Cherry Brook, NS 2017 Femmebot, Good Robot Brewing Co. Halifax, NS
2017 VIMANA Panel for Emerge Festival, Youth Art Connection Halifax, NS
2017 Annual Canadian Art Gallery Educators Panel, AGNS Halifax, NS
2017 ‘Many Hands, Many Voices’ Dept. of Community Services Membertou, NS
2017 ‘Moving Forward, Looking B(l)ack’, Visual Arts Nova Scotia Halifax, NS 

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Select Relevant Trainings & Mentorship Opportunities

  • April-June 2022 Completed the African Nova Scotian Entrepreneurship Program, Common Good Solutions & Blk Women in Excellence

  • 2019-22 AFX Animation Mentorship with Becka Barker Halifax, NS

  • 2018 Emergent Strategy Immersion Reunion  Gathering & Training Detroit, MI

  • 2018 Emergent Strategy Immersion  Facilitation Training with Adrienne Maree Brown Detroit, MI

  • 2017 Trauma Informed Training, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre Halifax, NS

  • 2016 Anti-Oppression Training, Girls Action Foundation Montreal, QC

  • 2016 Black and Indigenous Women's Gathering, Girls Action Foundation Montreal, QC

  • 2016 'L Training': Women's Leadership Training, Girls Action Foundation Montreal, QC

  • 2016 Emotional Emancipation Training with Erika Totten, Black Lives Matter DC Washington, DC

  • 2016 'Project Planning, Fund-raising and Events', Louise Adongo Halifax, NS

  • 2016 'Mental Emancipation & Burnout', Robert Wright Halifax, NS

  • 2016 Story-telling Inclusive of Identity, Bridging Bus Halifax, NS

  • 2016 'Using the Creative Arts for Transformational Learning', Tessa Mendel Halifax, NS 

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Select Publications & Media Appearances

Sept 2022 'Amplifying Voices' segment on Virgin Radio Broadcast & Website

July 2022 Unravel Halifax Magazine article 'Room to Breathe'

May 2022 Animated Short 'Home' screened during Animation Festival of Halifax's Adult Portion
“B2B Magazine Winter 2021 Cover (Issue 72)”, Black Business Initiative Magazine, 2021 “Academic Well-Being of Racialized Students” Textbook, Benita Bunjun ED., 2021
“Taking BLK Gottingen promotes entrepreneurs, amplifies Black Voices” article, Chronicle Herald, 2020

“Black businesses pop up in North End Halifax” article, Global News, 2020
“Bria Cherise Miller – Organizer + Visual Artist + Performer” video interview with Erica Brooks, Story-Book Entertainment, 2020
“Bria Miller’s archive of art” article, The Coast Magazine, 2020
Illustration for ‘Imagine Bloomfield’ Initiative promotional materials, 2018
“Imagine Bloomfield” banner design, 2019
“NAVIGATING”, Tinofadzwa Chiome, Eyelevel Gallery, 2018
Cover art for #TalkJustice, Halifax Barrister’s Society Magazine, 2018
“Black in Halifax” documentary series interview & screening by Francesca Ekwuyasi, 2017
Featured Artist, ‘Better Halifax’ Interview for Eastlink TV Highlight by Kay Slauenwhite, 2017
Actor, Dept. of Community Service’s Sexual Violence Prevention Strategy Online Training Module Videos, 2017          Training Link           Videos: 1  2 
“Home”, From The Root: Zine, Whitney French (vol 4), 2017
Actor, ‘Horizontal Concavity’ Film 5 Submission directed by Koumbie, 2016
“Resilience in Brown, Queer and Woman”, 4th Wall: Justice, Art & Youth catalogue, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Michaelle Jean Foundation, 2016

Contact Bria

I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.

info@briamakesthings.ca

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