Today we’d like to introduce you to VELO.
Hi VELO, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started creating from a place of survival before I even realized it was art. What began as a way to cope, express, and make sense of everything around me slowly turned into something bigger. Over time, I learned how to turn my voice, experiences, and creativity into purpose.
I’ve been through a lot, life didn’t take the straight or easy route for me but every chapter taught me something about resilience, growth, and staying true to myself. Instead of letting my story limit me, I used it to build.
Today, I’m still evolving, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I create with intention, honesty, and heart, and everything I do now is rooted in growth, self-expression, and leaving something meaningful behind
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve carried real pain with me along the way. Losing my brother changed me forever and left a grief that never fully goes away. Becoming a single mom forced me to be strong even when I felt empty, and to keep going for someone who depended on me while I was still trying to heal myself. I’ve also been through deep heartbreaks that broke my sense of trust and stability, moments where love felt like another loss instead of a safe place.
There were times I was surviving more than living, holding everything together while quietly falling apart. But those struggles shaped me. They taught me resilience, empathy, and how to turn pain into purpose. I didn’t come from ease… I came from loss, responsibility, and rebuilding and that’s what gives my story its depth.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an budtender, artist, published model, and my most important role: a mom. Born and raised in New Jersey. My work spans visual art, modeling, and music, all rooted in storytelling and lived experience. I specialize in emotionally driven, expressive art that blends vulnerability with strength, drawing from a life shaped by movement, loss, love, and growth. Whether I’m painting, modeling, or creating music, my focus is always authenticity over perfection.
I’ve been creating my entire life, from painting and drawing to ballet, acrobatics, singing, and piano but I began pursuing art professionally around 17, starting with music covers on YouTube. That opened doors to modeling and expanded my creative reach. Since then, my journey has taken me from Newark and Jersey City to NYC, Florida, Colorado, and Kansas, and travel continues to deeply influence my perspective and work.
The name Velo comes from my mother’s maiden name, Veloso, my grandfather’s last name. Carrying that name is a way of honoring my roots and the people I’ve lost, including my younger brother, who passed away in 2015. That loss, along with becoming a single mother, fundamentally shaped my purpose. My daughter is the heartbeat behind everything I do and the reason I continue to create, even on the hardest days.
What I’m most proud of is building a sustainable creative life while carrying real responsibility and grief and still choosing to show up honestly. What sets me apart is that my work isn’t manufactured or trendy; it’s lived. Every piece I create holds history, resilience, and intention. My art doesn’t just tell my story.. it invites others to see themselves in it.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is being surrounded by creativity. Dancing, singing, drawing, and performing without fear or pressure. I remember feeling completely free, like art was just something you did because it made you happy. Whether it was practicing ballet, playing piano, or putting on little performances, those moments were pure and full of joy. Looking back, that’s where everything started… before life got heavy, before loss… when creating felt like home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://highimvelo.weebly.com/#/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/v333lo
