Katy artist Vivian Mora has only been selling her work to the public for 10 years, but she said art has been a part of her life since her first recollection of drawing when she was 3 years old.

“For me, art has been a compulsion from the start. Art just brings me a lot of peace,” Mora said. “I’ve created art all my life. My family and friends have collected my work for years.”

About 10 years ago—after decades of sharing her art with friends and family—Mora said her supporters encouraged her to market her art to the public. The Mississippi-native who has lived in Katy for 16 years, said she now shows and sells her work at galleries across the Greater Houston area. She also teaches students at venues throughout the region.

“I’m a contemporary abstract expressionist,” Mora said. “For the last year and a half, I’ve been doing commissions [for customers]. Each piece of art work is unique.”

Ana Villaronga-Roman, curator and museum director at the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum, said Mora is one of the better-known artists in Katy.

“[Mora] is quite the professional, she’s very well-respected here,” Villaronga-Roman said. “She’s probably one of the true abstract artists. [Her art] has a lot to do with color and texture study.”

Mora said her passion for art began as a young child and continued while she was in college.

“Art keeps me grounded,” she said. “Art keeps me fairly sane and relaxed.”

Mora said she became involved in the Katy Area Artists, a 501(c)(3) organization of artists that seeks to mentor and educate artists age 16 and older in the Katy area. Mora is completing her final year as president of the organization in May.

“I love encouraging other artists, encouraging [them] to just explore and create,” Mora said. “If I do inspire someone to pick up a paintbrush or to pick up a pencil, then I think I made a difference.”

Mora’s art has been on display at the Katy Contemporary Art Museum for several years. A new show featuring her artwork is on display at Babaloo Gallery in the Villagio Town Center from May 1-June 30. The show, titled “Water, Water Everywhere,” is sponsored by the Katy Area Artists and features numerous area artists.

“People want to see art in Katy,” Vivian said. “[Due to] the partnerships we have with local businesses, we’ve brought art to Katy.”