Growing up in a rural setting the development of hand skills and the making of objects was a part of Vivian BeerԳ daily life. Through out her carrier this understanding of design as hands-on process has influenced the format of both process and product. In 2000 she completed a BFA in sculpture from the Maine College of Art and went on to the receive her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2004. While there the history of contemporary furniture design worked as a strong counter balance to working in a number of craft schools and as a designer/fabricator of architectural ornamental ironwork.

Throughout her education she has tiptoed through contemporary design, craft and sculptural aesthetics, and found the subject of furniture to be a passion. Vivian is a current artist in residence at Penland School of Crafts where she has begun a new body of expressive outdoor objects.