We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Roche and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I believe that life and work are blended daily in my life. It all goes together.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a painter and mixed media artist in Greenville, SC. My work is abstracted and very conceptual. Stories and slice of memories are revealed in my work. I have been making art work for about 20 years and began doing this after retiring from the corporate world where I was an event planner for a large company. I also started a gallery in Greenville 14 years ago. The gallery business was very hard for the first 10 years, however I’ve been fortunate in my art making career to have had a place to display my work since I own the gallery. I have had many many challenges mostly related to being the owner of a small business especially 3 small businesses. My art gallery, my making art career and now my Textile Design company. Running all of the three businesses with a lean staff and budget is very challenging in that I wear so many hats. Sales person, maker, marketing, accountant (I’m terrible at), logistics, management. I now have 3 employees and that has been a huge help. I’ve learned some hard lessons mostly related to relationships with other artists the gallery has represented and also with the costs involved in running a gallery and textile design business. I’ve had some true and honest failures along the way but because of my business background for 23 years in the corporate world, I’ve been able to fail and rebound and pivot – it’s an emotional ride. I am very passionate about the work I make, whether it be fine art, fabric and wallpaper or managing the gallery. I am in 100% in everything I do and love when makers are able to make a living doing their life’s work. The process of watching this happen is so full-filling. It is so much hard work and perseverance – the wins are the highest highs and the fails are the lowest lows, but persevering through it all and keeping your eye on the horizon and why you started doing what you care so deeply about is the thing important thing. That takes a lot of compromise, collaboration and teamwork as well. Admitting that something is not going well and being able to pivot is so important – and then moving on with high energy is what brings me to the next win.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In the Greenville area, my gallery is located in the Village of West Greenville, My favorite restaurant, The Anchorage a would be our first stop for dinner. The food is incredible and the owners are the best of the best! If covid was not an issue, I would take them to the Art Bomb to meet my gifted artist friends and give them a tour. I would also take them to the Village Grind coffee shop for coffee and scones. The downtown area of Greenville is a beautiful place. Taking them for a stroll through Falls Park and across the bridge would also be tops on the list. There are many fabulous places to snake and eat – one of my favorite downtown restaurants is Gianni’s. I would also take them to the lululemon store around the corner from Gianni’s and then walk them past the Peace Center and to Anthropologie. After a romp thro Anthro we would grab a coffee and chocolate pie at Methodical Coffee. I also love taking friends to Hendersonville and Asheville, N.c.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents Two of my bosses in previous jobs A dance professor in college Book: Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders Book: The Aesthetics of Joy by Ingrid Fetell Lee

Website: www.teresarocheart.com
Instagram: teresa roche art
Facebook: teresa roche art & textiles

Image Credits
Eli Warren Photographer Angela Zion Cox Photographer

Nominate someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.