MERIDIAN, MISS. (Market Day Report Weekend) — Meri Romedy Barbian never planned for painting to become her full-time career. While working in the corporate world, she started a jewelry business on the side and used her artwork as backdrops in product photos.
Before long, people became more interested in the paintings than the jewelry itself. As demand for her artwork grew, so did her business. Eventually, she made the leap to pursue art full-time, turning down traditional job opportunities to focus on what would become Painted by Rom, a successful business known for its farm-inspired artwork and rural charm.
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A Mississippi artist is turning rural landscapes and farm life into a growing creative business that is gaining attention from customers across the country.
Meri Romedy Barbian, artist and entrepreneur behind Painted by Rom, joined us on Market Day Report Weekend to discuss her journey from the corporate world to a full-time artist and the inspiration behind her farm-inspired work.
In her conversation with RFD News Anchor Eliza Petry, Barbian said her path into art began as a side project while running a small jewelry business, where she used her paintings as backdrops for product photography. She demand quickly shifted toward her artwork, ultimately leading her to transition into painting full-time and build her business around it.
Meri also discussed her creative focus on farming landscapes and rural scenes, explaining her interest in capturing the visual identity and character of rural America through her work.
She describes her style as “Southern pop art,” blending traditional farm imagery with bold, modern artistic elements that she said help bridge familiarity with a contemporary aesthetic.
She spoke about the response from the agricultural community, noting strong support and growing demand for her work as collectors connect with rural themes depicted in her paintings and prints.
Barbian also previewed her upcoming collection set to release on June 26, highlighting the continued expansion of her creative work and engagement with her audience.
