My name is Briana Ariel (Bree-ah-na Air-ree-el), and I am a textile artist and poet whose work exists to encourage you to bloom! My greatest joys and highest achievements are found in being deeply loved by God, being a wife to my husband Stephen, and nurturing our three beautiful children. These foundational relationships inform and inspire every aspect of my creative practice.

Poetry captured my heart at a young age and has never let go. There's something special about finding the perfect rhythm and cadence to express the deepest parts of the human experience. Through every season of life, poetry has been a constant, offering a unique language for expressing my soul. The words Jesus allows me to pen have become instruments of healing, both for myself and for others who encounter them through my books and journal.

The heart behind all my work is that I want people to know they are beautiful, deeply loved, and more than enough. This message threads through every poem I write and every stitch I place, creating art that serves as a reminder of who we truly are at our core.

Working with my hands has always been a deeply meditative process for me. I find great delight in watching something beautiful emerge from simple materials. In these moments of creation, I feel most connected to Jesus—the ultimate Creator. These hands-on creative sessions become beautiful conversations, where I am reminded of who I am and gain the strength and wisdom to encourage others.

My background might seem a bit scattered—I hold degrees in finance and economics, as well as an MBA—but it all makes sense to me. Those years in corporate finance taught me discipline and analytical thinking, skills that surprisingly complement my current creative work. Even in the most numbers-focused environments, I found ways to bring creativity into what I was doing. It turns out that analytical and artistic minds aren't opposites—they actually work beautifully together.

In my weekly publication, The Psalm Room, I don't shy away from difficult topics because I've learned that transparency with The Lord brings more healing than hiding beneath shame ever could. I share poetry, art, and glimpses into my journey with readers, often including excerpts from vulnerable journal pages in hopes of inspiring at least one person. I love connecting with my subscribers through newsletters that offer deeper insights into my creative process and heart (follow my journey here).

Life keeps me busy beyond the art studio! Raising three children is both humbling and empowering, reminding me daily of what truly matters. Stephen and I co-own COVA Design Company, helping businesses discover and share their authentic voices—it's rewarding work that combines creativity with strategy. I'm also the editor-in-chief of FREED Magazine, where we share incredible testimonies of faith from people around the globe. These stories never fail to move and inspire me.

My artistic practice is ultimately an act of worship, delight, and love—a way of participating in the ongoing creation of beauty in our world while reminding others of the beauty that already exists within them.

Published Books

Catching Butterflies: Poems to Soothe an Anxious Heart, 2025

Atrapando Mariposas: Poemas para Calmar un Corazón Ansioso (Spanish Edition), 2025

Attraper des Papillons: Poèmes pour Apaiser un Cœur Anxieux (French Edition), 2025

Her Loved Soul: A Poetic Journey Through Dating, 2024

Affirmation ABCs for Little Ladies: Empowering Girls with Character-Building Affirmations, 2023

Maybe Yes: A poetic journey of facing doubt and fears, 2022

Soul Affirmations Vol II: Affirmations of Hope, 2022

Soul Affirmations Vol I: Affirmations for My Family, 2021

Her Freed Soul: A Poetic Journey of Healing from the Inside Out, 2018

All Books
Briana Ariel with her contemporary textile artist and poet posing in a studio for a portrait

Artist Bio

Briana Ariel (b. 1991) is a contemporary textile artist and poet based in Virginia Beach, VA. Briana Ariel's art is poetry in visual form. Her textile work transforms each careful stitch into a poetic expression. Just like her written poetry, all pieces are open to interpretation. Each piece becomes a conversation between artist and observer, where the language of thread and fabric speaks as rhythmically as any written word, offering multiple layers of understanding that shift and deepen with each encounter.

Through her art practice, she hopes viewers see themselves as strong, beautiful, more than enough, highly capable, and deeply loved. She received 2nd place in the Norfolk Botanical Gardens Diversity Gallery juried exhibition in February 2025. Her work extends globally through partnerships with organizations worldwide, reaching audiences as far as Brazil.

She uses her art as a form of philanthropy to create meaningful change in human existence. Through collaborations with nonprofits and community organizations, she leverages creativity to address social issues, promote mental health awareness, and foster conversations about self-worth and resilience—transforming art into a tool for healing and positive transformation.

Artist Statement

My art transforms poetry into visual form through textile work, where each stitch becomes a line of verse that invites personal interpretation and ongoing dialogue between artist and viewer. Through my creative practice, I aim to help people see themselves as beautiful, deeply loved,  and more than enough, using creativity as a tool for healing and positive transformation. I extend this mission globally through partnerships with nonprofits and community organizations, leveraging art as a means of philanthropy to address social issues and foster conversations about self-worth and love.

Portfolio
Available Originals
Archival Prints