Violeta Barcenas

About the Artist

Violeta Barcenas |  Violeta Barcenas is a self-taught Nicaraguan mixed media artist and illustrator whose work is rooted in memory, and cultural identity.  As the founder of Violet Red Studio, Violeta creates bold, maximalist artwork that celebrates joy and connection.  Her work is shaped by the places she’s called home: Nicaragua, Bolivia, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, and now the D.C. metro area. Her work is alive with the rhythm, energy, and emotion of Latin America, drawing from the landscapes, stories, and cultures that have shaped her journey. Born in Nicaragua, and raised in different countries her home was filled with her mother’s watercolors, and her head wired for creativity and full of ideas. But when it came time for college, she took a detour into advertising, unsure if art could be more than just a passion. Though the pull of paint and ink never left her. In her thirties, a breast cancer diagnosis turned things upside down. What began as a way to heal became a commitment to creating art with purpose. She turned to painting to process, rebuild, and stay grounded. And hasn’t stopped since. Her work celebrates everyday joy—big colors, bold strokes, and compositions that invite people to feel something. Because at the end of the day, that’s what art is meant to do. Violeta works in ink, acrylic, and digital, blending traditional and modern techniques to create art that feels just as vibrant as the world around her.