We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Mantilla Griffin and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My husband always jokes that I love to take unnecessary risks. It’s funny to me because I don’t see risk the same way he does, and I don’t fear it. Because of that mindset, risk-taking has played a pivotal role in my career. I’ve always been a contrary person; if everyone is doing one thing, I want to try the opposite. This leads to risk because it often puts me in uncharted territory. But I’ve learned that that’s where the most growth takes place. A large part of risk is just being willing to be vulnerable and open to whatever happens. I could fail, I could get hurt, I could be embarrassed…or it could all work out better than I’ve imagined. I find that if I’m not too tied to the outcome, I can enjoy the process of just stretching and growing. In that space between risk and reward, I always learn new things about myself.
What should our readers know about your business?
Tricia Beanum and I started UNREPD because we wanted to create a beautiful space where underrepresented artists could sell their work, and where underserved collectors could buy it. That means that we look for people of color, women, and non-binary artists whose work feels fresh and important, and we display their work in an upscale yet unpretentious environment. The idea is for anyone to feel welcome and comfortable buying museum-quality art. We’re proud of the success we’ve had in furthering the careers of our artists, while attracting a diverse collector base. The biggest lesson we’ve learned is that the conventional wisdom doesn’t always apply; particularly as women of color, the most important thing for us is to be true to our own vision and perspectives.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course we’d start in the Sycamore District to check out UNREPD, Pop Up Home, The Arc, and Just One Eye, take an hour to float at Pause, and then grab a bite and a glass of wine at Gigi’s. We’d do a beach day with lunch and coffee at Playa Provisions. Gallery hopping would be a must, now that things are opening back up. And I’d hope that we could track down the Triple Threat Truck for some Puerto Rican food!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people! My family, especially my husband, Devin. My business partner, Tricia Beanum. And all of the people that I’m grateful to call friends. I have an incredibly supportive tribe, which is the main reason that I’m able to take risks freely.
Website: unrepd.com
Instagram: @unrepd
Other: My personal Instagram account is @arthousemarket – it’s a more wide-ranging curation of all the art that inspires me.
Image Credits
Angie Graves Ace Misiunas