Cat Viera grew up along the New England coast exploring the dramatic changes in both terrain and seasons. Generations of her family are deeply rooted in artesian water well drilling, which instilled an interest in geology; specifically rocks, land formation, water sources and soil types. Other family members offered inspiration and creative outlets through sharing crafts like painting, quilting, and repurposing items. She was drawn to making art and spending time in nature from an early age and still finds both of these to be integral parts of balanced living.

Her first job was in a coffee shop which fostered a love for listening to human stories as they pour themselves out over ceramic mugs. After high school, she taught youth art classes at community centers and studied floriculture & horticulture while working as a landscape gardener. Later, she moved to Jacksonville, NC, working as a professional tattoo artist for 13 years. Running private studios allowed her to create a culture of safe space for clients to freely express their stories through her art.

She found joy in plein air painting and volunteering at the Jacksonville-Onslow Council for the Arts. Community service inspired her to become a yoga teacher, assisting others through exploring shifts of comfort and discomfort. After observing a wheel-throwing demonstration during a military healing arts symposium, she decided to take an introductory ceramics class.

Viera holds an Associate of Arts as well as an Associate of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville, NC. She graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts concentrating in Ceramics and a Minor in Psychology. She has received numerous awards for her art and completed public art commissions from the Arts Council of Jacksonville-Onslow for the City of Jacksonville, NC, and Albert Ellis Airport. Viera directed the Art Institute for Sturgeon City while serving as an officer on the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of Jacksonville-Onslow. She was secretary of the Student Government Association at Coastal Carolina Community College, as well as the Ceramics Guild for East Carolina University.

In 2021, she completed a five-week internship through the North Carolina Pottery Center at Crystal King Pottery. While exploring area potteries, she became fascinated with learning more about production pottery, combining both traditional and contemporary techniques, as well as utilizing a wide variety of firing methods. After graduating in 2022, Viera returned to Seagrove as the artist in residence at the NC Pottery Center, while working in communications at Starworks and teaching area yoga classes. July 2023, she accepted the job of Educational Programs Manager at NCPC and moved to Seagrove to pursue her passion for the craft. She teaches classes and workshops to all ages in a variety of ceramic processes throughout the year.

Viera’s pottery is continuously informed by her lived experiences and credited influences. Her forms are intentional and thoughtful reflections on how pottery can participate in curating memories and relationships. She embellishes the surfaces with designs and techniques that complement. Her creative practice is a journey of self-acceptance through non-judgmental observation. As a potter, she leans into the challenging dialogue of working with clay and finding her own center at the wheel. Viera is driven to create functional wares that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also express some of the interesting dynamics of being human.