Today we’d like to introduce you to Rochelle Marsh.
Hi Rochelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Leavenworth and went to Pitt State, earning a BFA in Fine Art. After working in the wedding industry and then running a Bed and Breakfast in Lawrence, I stayed at home with the 2 boys that my husband and I adopted from Russia. Once middle school started for the boys, I went back to work part-time at Downtown Lawrence, Inc. as an administrative assistant for the non-profit. In 2022, Sue Shea, who had run Phoenix Gallery since 2011, was looking to retire and approached me about taking over Phoenix Gallery from her. I’ve been here now since November of 2022. It is so fun to use lots of experiences from all of my previous careers at the Gallery and my parents are thrilled to see me use that art degree I earned so long ago.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A Fine Arts degree is not very sought after by most employers so it was often difficult to find employment that paid a higher wage and offered benefits. Art school also took a lot of the enjoyment out of creating traditional art for me. The pressure to create something different than what your mind wants to, just to please a professor or earn a better grade, made creating a bit of a chore. I’ve had to work to get back to a place where I find joy in creating.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My role at Phoenix Gallery is as Director, working with artists and suppliers to find work that our customers will love! It is an honor to be the conduit to bring artists a way to sell their work and our patrons to find a special work that they connect with. We offer a HUGE range of items from local, regional and national artists. We focus on work from small studios and pride ourselves on bringing our clients handmade items of all types. We are known as a perfect place to find the perfect gifts! We have traditional gallery pieces such as painting and sculptures, but also ceramics, jewelry, glass, wood and fiber work, etc.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Mentors aren’t always in the form you expect. One of my first, and best, mentors was a middle-aged man! I was never expecting it, but he was an incredible source for inspiration and support. Being willing to do some manual labor and jump in to help.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.phoenixgalleryart.com
- Instagram: phoenix_gallery
- Facebook: Phoenix Gallery
