Bio

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, to a conservative, single-mother home, Vera's exposure to a limited worldview remained constant throughout his childhood. After settling in the Bible-Belt of the South in the small town of Cadiz, Kentucky, he aspired to become an artist to explore his differences with such values. However, moving only thirty minutes away to pursue an undergraduate degree in drawing didn't provide much variety; instead, Murray State University equipped him with the confidence and competence to continue his pursuit as a professional artist. From there, he was fortunate to travel to Barcelona, Spain, where self-acceptance of his sexuality and achieving dreams came to fruition.

After obtaining his graduate degree in visual art and design, Vera's work is grounded in the pursuit of understanding desire through curiously exploring different art–making methods– from drawing and silkscreening to archiving and collaging. The University of Nevada in Reno emboldened Vera to hone his voice as an artist, understand his privilege, and question and challenge worldview perspectives.

Relocating to Miami Beach for the past six years has only amplified said challenge, giving Vera's work a certain Pop Art flare that only Art Deco can attain. Today, Vera has returned to his hometown of Cadiz, Kentucky to further grasp the historical preservation of his roots and to aid in the uplifting of his familial community through art and design.