ART THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES: USING A CREATIVE PASSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As a former middle school teacher, one Long Beach resident never imagined that her knack for designing bulletin boards would lead her to a thriving business.

Meet Briana Murray - a talented local illustrator whose art is driven by her passion for social justice and standing up for marginalized communities. From advocating for mental health awareness to promoting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, Bri's art initiates meaningful conversations and serves as a call to action for those wanting to create a more equitable and just world. Drawing inspiration from pop culture and music, her work is representative of matters which she deeply cares about and is committed to.

THE BEGINNINGS

Spending years as a dedicated teacher in the public school system, her creative passion really took shape as she began having fun with lettering and bulletin board designs in her classroom. Her students were immediately drawn to her artistic talent and often asked Bri to handwrite or calligraphy their names. The positive response from students prompted her to further explore her skills. As a result, she took on more lettering projects, including custom orders and sign-making for friends. With each new project, she gained further confidence in her abilities, ultimately leading her to get more creative with this new endeavor.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, she suddenly found herself with more time on her hands and began dedicating that time to getting better at her craft. Along with calligraphy, she experimented with cartoon drawings and illustrations. One day, on a whim, she posted to social media asking if anyone would like a custom drawing. The response was overwhelming and led to her first successful month as a designer.

As Bri started to think about her business, she asked herself some important questions. She wanted to figure out what truly mattered to her and what kind of causes she wanted to support through her art. She also asked herself what kinds of stickers and designs she would want to see in her daily life, like on her water bottle or laptop. And most importantly, she wanted to find a way to turn her passion into something that brings others joy.

After some reflection, she decided to open up shop on Etsy. Half of her shop became dedicated towards activism, social justice and mental health, and the other half towards pop culture and music — a culmination of some of her most personal interests.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

As Bri reminisced on her first few years in business, she shared that finding her niche was not easy. However, after a period of trial and error, she was able to hone in on her identity as an artist and narrow down her focus. As a result of her hard work, Bri's designs have garnered fans from all corners of the United States, which is one of the most rewarding aspects of her business.

"It's an amazing feeling to know that my designs are making people happy all over,” she said. “It’s wild to me to think that something I created or drew is bringing joy to someone on the other side of the country.”

Being able to give back is another rewarding part of the business for her. She donates a minimum of 10 percent of her proceeds on each sale to both local and international organizations she believes in.

Living in the Bixby Knolls area of LB with her husband, Emile, and their pup, Roscoe, they love Long Beach and are so proud to call this city their home. On any given weekend, you can find them on a walk or stroll around the neighborhood, at the McGowen dog park near The Hangar at LBX, eating at Taqueria La Mexicana on 4th street, or just catching up with friends at SteelCraft.

Bri's collection of stickers and greeting cards are available for purchase via her Etsy shop, StuffByBriGoods, and can also be found at select Tilly's stores near you.