We’re looking forward to introducing you to Luciana Barilari Bullentini. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Luciana , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time whenever I’m surrounded by beauty. Sometimes it’s a piece of art, sometimes it’s the Detroit skyline I see from my window – this city has a creative pulse that feels both raw and inspiring, sometimes is taking a moment to slow down and spend intentional time with my family and close friends – the conversations, shared meals, and spontaneous reunions bring me back to who I am beneath the layers of work.
Those quality pauses, where I’m being present absorbing color, shape, energy, where Im reconnecting with who I am, always bring me back to myself and to the purpose behind Vivace Co.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Luciana Barilari Bullentini, founder of Vivace Company – a Detroit-based creative house that blends fine art, design, and meaningful human connection. What began decades ago as a small fashion boutique in Brazil has evolved into a multidisciplinary space where artists, designers, photographers, and makers from around the world come together under one vision: to shift perspectives and elevate the way we experience art.
Vivace Co. is not a gallery in the traditional sense. It’s a curated ecosystem. We represent exceptional talents such as Leonardo Dolfini, Aleksandra Ilic Bjelica, Mariana Gadelha, Helena Dal, photographer Andrea Tarelow, the fashion designer Marcelo Gioiele, among others who collaborate with us on special projects. Each contributes to an ever-growing dialogue between fine art, fashion, culture, and storytelling.
Our work ranges from curatorial consulting and commissioned pieces to immersive “Art Exhibition Parties” – gatherings that integrate design, photography, music, and community. These events have become a signature of our identity, creating opportunities for people to connect deeply with creativity while supporting local spaces, partners, and friends who generously open their homes and studios for our experiences.
One of the most special aspects of Vivace Co. is the way the brand evolves organically. We are expanding our creative family with Patricia Barilari Bullentini, bringing her refined architectural and artistic sensibility into our projects and global vision. And even as I continue my parallel work in the high-end automotive design world, Vivace remains the place where all my passions find harmony – color, materials, textures, fashion, culture, and the human stories behind each piece.
At its core, Vivace is driven by authenticity, curiosity, and the belief that luxury today is not excess – it’s intention. It’s the privilege of being moved by something meaningful.
That is what guides our work. And that is why Vivace continues to feel alive, evolving, and deeply connected to Detroit’s creative pulse.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship with my family. It started with my mom who saw me clearly long before I understood my own path – she always believed that dedication, professionalism, and independence were essential for a woman, and she encouraged me to follow my instincts, study, work hard, pursue a career with purpose and embrace the world beyond Brazil, which ultimately led me to build a life in the USA. Even though she passed away fifteen years ago, her voice still guides me. She also hoped that my younger sister, Patrícia, and I would remain close and support each other through every chapter.
My father though taught me the most about work. Not through formal lessons, but through the consistency and integrity that have defined his entire life. Even at 79, he is still reinventing himself, approaching every new phase with discipline, curiosity, and a deeply rooted sense of responsibility. Watching him navigate business with seriousness, purpose, and quiet determination shaped the way I understand commitment and the value of doing things well. This interview feels like the right moment to honor him. His resilience, his work ethic, and the example he continues to set are present in every step of my professional path and in the spirit of Vivace itself.
And today the relationship that is shaping me most is the one I share with my sister, Patricia. People often say we’re ‘almost twins,’ and in many ways that’s true. We’ve always shared similar tastes, a sensibility for beauty, and an intuitive approach to the creative world. Over the years, our professional paths evolved in different directions, yet somehow kept circling back to each other. Now, working side by side feels like a natural continuation of everything we’ve learned and built together – a partnership rooted in trust, shared vision, and the quiet certainty that we were always meant to collaborate.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her to trust her pace. To understand that growth is not linear, and that every shift – even the unexpected ones, will guide her toward exactly where she needs to be. I would remind her that discipline and creativity can coexist, that intuition matters, and that she doesn’t need to have everything figured out to move forward with confidence.
The path will make sense in hindsight, and the person she becomes will be stronger, more grounded, and far more fulfilled than she could imagine.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the Art world is the idea that luxury must feel distant – that exclusivity requires detachment. I’ve seen the opposite to be true. The most meaningful Art experiences happen when people feel invited in, not kept out.
Another misconception is that artists should fit into predefined boxes to be considered “valuable”. At Vivace Co., we’ve learned that authenticity and emotional resonance are far more powerful than trends or labels.
Art doesn’t need to be intimidating. It needs to be human and establish connections.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who truly enjoyed life. Someone who worked hard, but never forgot to savor the moments in between – with big laughs, curiosity, warmth, and intention.
I hope they felt respected when they crossed my path, because that matters deeply to me. And most of all, I hope my nephews feel proud – that they see in me an example of balance, integrity and joy, and feel inspired to live fully and kindly in their own way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vivace-company.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivace.company/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VivaceCom/about/
Image Credits
Image “Luci_NY” – Andreia Tarelow
