An Inspired Chat with Brianna Pippens of Silver Spring

We recently had the chance to connect with Brianna Pippens and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Brianna, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Recently, I had my artwork put on 2 Traffic Boxes within the span of 2 weeks in places that I consider home. I am very proud to be able to start doing more public art in my community because it has always been a dream of mine.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Bri Pippens, a multidisciplinary artist based in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the founder of Banana Peppers Art. My work lives at the intersection of illustration, digital art, and fiber techniques, each offering a different way to explore themes of identity, nostalgia, and community. I am inspired by the richness of Black culture, everyday life, and the quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
What makes my practice unique is how it brings together storytelling and texture. Whether I am creating a punch needle portrait, a digital illustration, or a public mural, my goal is to make art that feels both personal and communal. I love blending contemporary design with handmade elements, finding that balance between digital precision and the warmth of something crafted by hand.
Through my brand, Banana Peppers Art, I offer prints, apparel, coloring books, and other creative goods that reflect joy, reflection, and connection. Each piece is made with intention and often rooted in affirmations or experiences that have shaped who I am. Recently, I have been diving deeper into my punch needle work through a series called Being, which explores themes of self-awareness, love, and the act of showing up as you are.
I want people to see themselves in my work, to feel affirmed, inspired, and reminded that creativity can be a form of healing. My art is a reflection of my journey, and I am grateful that it continues to grow alongside me.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom has taught me the most about work. She was actually my kindergarten teacher, so I was able to see her both as my mother and as an educator who poured so much of herself into her students. She has been teaching for over 30 years and still shows up every day with the same care, patience, and dedication. Watching her balance strength, empathy, and creativity shaped how I move through the world and how I approach my art.
Her example taught me that hard work is about more than effort. It is about purpose and consistency. The way she continues to nurture others reminds me to lead with intention and heart in everything I do, whether I am creating, collaborating, or building community through my work.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self just how cool she is. I don’t think she knew it at the time. But she was vibrant, thoughtful, imaginative, and full of light. She danced like she meant it. She made art just because it felt good. She saw the world in colors and movement and ideas.
I would tell her to be gentler with herself. I started being critical way too early. Measuring myself against standards I never agreed to. Worrying if I was good enough before I even knew what “enough” meant. I would want her to know that her creativity was never about being the best. It was about being honest. It was about feeling something and letting it out.
I have always been an artist. That part has never changed. But I would tell her that making something meaningful doesn’t require perfection. That her voice, her rhythm, her style — all of it was already there. And that she didn’t need to work so hard to prove anything.
I would tell her to keep creating without apology. To stay soft. To trust the magic in her point of view. And I would thank her for carrying so much, for being brave enough to start. Because everything I create now is built on what she first imagined.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think my closest friends would say that what really matters to me is creating from a place of truth, care, and cultural awareness. They know I am someone who feels things deeply and who uses creativity to process, reflect, and connect. Whether I am working on a punch needle piece, illustrating a portrait, curating a playlist, or even just sharing a thought online, I want what I put out into the world to feel intentional.
They would say I care deeply about social justice and about telling stories that preserve Black history and celebrate the beauty, complexity, and brilliance of our experiences. I am always thinking about legacy and about what it means to create work that outlives the moment. That shows up in everything I do, from the art I make to the opportunities I say yes to. I do not take any of it lightly.
They also know how much I love music. I go to a lot of concerts, and not just to be entertained. For me, it is about being in a room where the energy is shared, where the lyrics hit, where rhythm becomes a feeling in your body. Music has always been a source of inspiration and grounding for me. It influences the mood of my work, the movement in my lines, the stories I want to tell. My friends know that if I say a song made me cry or changed my whole day, I mean it.
They would probably say I am sentimental, but in a good way. I hold on to things that matter — people, places, memories, symbols. I am always looking at the past and the present at the same time, trying to honor both. I am someone who leads with heart, who notices details, who listens more than I speak, and who is always thinking about how to turn what I feel into something visual and meaningful.
At the end of the day, they would say I care about doing things with love. Whether it is art, friendship, community, or celebration, I want it to be rooted in something real.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
f I knew I had ten years left, I think I would quit my day job. Not because it has been all bad, but because it has taken up so much space in my life that could have gone to creating. I would stop giving my best energy to something that doesn’t feel like my purpose.
I have always known I was an artist, and I have worked hard to keep that part of myself alive. But I also know I have held back. I have played it safe. I have poured myself into other people’s deadlines and left my own dreams waiting.
With ten years left, I would choose freedom. I would make art every day. I would rest more. I would make room for joy and beauty without needing to justify it. I would finally stop trying to balance everything and let myself live fully in what I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bananapeppersart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bpeppersart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-pippens/

Image Credits
Headshot – Joshua Herrera