UNREPD Los Angeles Gallery
A Safe Space For Diversity in Art
A conversation with Sarah Griffin, PhD., Co-Founder and Head Curator of UNREPD Gallery
Photograph courtesy of Sarah Griffin
She didn’t always start out in the art world.
I definitely took a circuitous route to get here, Sarah says. My background is in English Literature; I earned my PhD in the same year that I became a mother, and took time off to raise my children. I re-entered the workforce as a private art consultant.
She followed her heart at every turn. “I believe that there is work that each of us is meant to do in this life, and that those opportunities will find us; we just have to be willing to take the leap when it’s time.”
Sarah Griffin is the owner of Art House Market art consultancy and one of the powerhouses behind UNREPD Gallery.
Sarah shares her advice on art collecting to both new and experienced collectors and those in career transition. Trust yourself, she says, —if you think you should be making a career transition, you’re probably right!
Through her work in the art consultancy, she met her business partner, Tricia Beanum. Both feeling called to further the careers of under-recognized artists, we decided to start an art space together— UNREPD was born.
“Trust yourself, —if you think you should be making a career transition, you’re probably right!”
Nestled in the style-centric neighborhood in Hollywood’s Sycamore district, UNREPD Gallery is found intertwined in the cool environment of Pop Up Home, a two level loft space; a perfectly curated atmosphere for viewing art in a designed place. This setup creates a relatable and approachable context to view, enjoy and purchase art. Ever wonder what an art piece would look like in your space? UNREPD Gallery allows you to visualize it in a comfortable and unpretentious way.
“UNREPD’s mission is simple: to offer a safe space for a diverse array of artists to sell their work, and for a legion of new and experienced collectors to buy it. Without the pretense, mystery, or insider’s club often expected in art spaces, UNREPD welcomes anyone who makes or appreciates groundbreaking works of art.”
Photo courtesy of UNREPD. Sarah Mantilla Griffin pictured left and Tricia Benitez Beanum
Sarah is a private art consultant and founder of Art House Market, and Tricia, is an estate sale specialist and interior stylist who owns Pop Up Home vintage showroom. Both make up the UNREPD Gallery team.
“We just started talking about representation as a concept and an idea, and [how] growing up we didn’t see representation of ourselves.”
“When we say unrepresented, it means who’s underrepresented in the art world. ”
Elisa Valenti Studio at UNREPD Gallery. Photo courtesy of @TheTyPennington
In tandem with her partner, they created a way to change the landscape of the art world by championing BIPOC, women, and nonbinary artists in an innovative way through UNREPD gallery.
250lbs, 40” x 30”. acrylic on canvas, 2019. Available via UNREPD Gallery.
Elisa Valenti’s paintings resonated with you immediately. Why do these works represent the UNREPD culture ?
The work that comes to mind is 250lb because it’s so unapologetic in its insistence that big, voluptuous bodies are beautiful and sensual and powerful.
Your work is part of an incredibly rich history—spanning multiple cultures—of feminine curves denoting beauty, fertility, and spiritual strength. Unfortunately, this history is often overshadowed by current beauty standards in mass media. So your work is a perfect example of UNREPD’s mission to bring important, unseen perspectives to the forefront.
“The work that comes to mind is 250lb because it’s so unapologetic in its insistence that big, voluptuous bodies are beautiful and sensual and powerful. ”
Sarah offers tips to art collectors, both new and experienced.
Own the word collector. I think first and foremost, own that you are ready to become a collector, whatever that might mean.
Making the commitment to put original work in your home, is a solid starting place.
Support and buy from underrepresented artists. Women and artists of color have been historically ignored by the art world, which means there’s a ton of amazing art out there that is priced so an early collector could actually afford to buy it.
Buy what speaks to you personally, and be honest with yourself about what that is. You don’t have to like the art that everyone else likes.
Would you share your thoughts for people with existing collections on how to incorporate new works by underrepresented artists?
The good news is that underrepresented artists have been exploring many of the same questions as mainstream artists—but from different angles—since the beginning of time. So whatever themes tie your collection together could easily extend to underrepresented artists; incorporating them will expand the conversation and improve your collection. Think about what more you might be able to find on the flip side of your current collection by adding some unexpected or underexplored perspectives.
To find your own collecting style, forget the rules. Don’t buy what you think you should buy; buy the art that makes you feel something. If you start your collection from a place that feels exciting, inspiring, and important, you’ll be able to build around your first piece with new perspectives that deepen the ideas you’re exploring, and your collection will feel meaningful to you.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to go small. Rather than trying to fill a wall space with one piece, think about how you might put smaller works together over time. This makes the initial investment feel a lot more manageable. Starting with limited edition pieces is also a good way to get your feet wet.
“Own the word collector”
Would you offer guidance to artists on what you look for when choosing artists for UNREPD. What is the deciding wow factor for you?
When I choose new artists for UNREPD, I’m looking for work that looks specific to the artist who made it. I’m looking for new takes (even if they’re on old themes) that feel fresh and exciting. I’m looking for artists with clear voices and something to say.
Mostly, I’m looking for the energy of the artist in the work—that’s what I connect to and is what sets apart the work that really feels special. When artists are fully true to themselves and create from a place that is deeply meaningful to them, that feeling always comes through in the artwork. That’s the wow factor for me.