Meet the Maker: Liza Pruitt, Art Curator
Welcome to the fifth installment of the "Meet the Maker" series here on the Mix & Match blog! If you enjoy reading this interview, check out the others in the series here.
I'm so excited to introduce y’all to Liza Pruitt today. She’s a talented art curator with an online collective where you can shop original art and she’s a fellow Richmonder! I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know her over the past few months and I know you’ll enjoy reading more about her and her business in the Q&A below. Read on, friends!
Also, if you find a piece you LOVE and have to have, Liza’s offering a 10% discount with code MIXANDMATCH at checkout! There are so many great ones to choose from, so be sure and take a good look through her gallery! Many of the pieces I shared here are available as of the publishing of this post.
Liza and I met through Instagram about a year ago after I shared a piece from an artist she also happens to represent in her collective! It was fun to connect with her and discover that she lived in Richmond - the place we were moving back to in just a few short months. Once we realized that our companies had very similar missions and we lived in the same town, we knew we had to figure out some ways to collaborate together.
We got together in person (yay for real-life Instagram connections!) back in the fall to plan it out - you’re seeing the first part of it here today on the blog and the second part is happening over on Instagram. If you happen to hop over there this afternoon (January 15th) on @liza.pruitt and/or @mixandmatchdesigncompany, we’ll be doing a little something fun with art in my bedroom that you’ll definitely want to see. If you’re reading this on any other day, just head over to my highlights to see what we were up to!
Now let's hear more from the curator herself - a very warm welcome to the Mix & Match Design Company blog, Liza!
Tell me a little bit of your story. Where are you based? What’s your personal/professional background?
I grew up in Savannah, Georgia, which is where I first learned to love and appreciate art thanks to my grandmother and mom who were collectors of fine art. This appreciation grew as I went off to college (College of Charleston and University of Georgia), studied abroad in Europe and Africa, and studied sociology - cultures and people have always fascinated me. After graduating and knowing I wasn't ready to join the corporate world, I moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where I met my now husband Braxton. We moved back to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia a couple of years later and have been here now for seven amazing years.
Tell me about Liza Pruitt, the business - how did you get started, and what drew you to want to source original art and “make it accessible to all” like your tagline says?
I grew up surrounded by and appreciating art. My mother and grandmother were avid collectors, and my sister went on to manage a gallery in Charleston. When I finally started my own collection, it wasn’t long before my friends and family were asking how I sourced my pieces.
My answer was almost always, “Instagram!” and eventually I had an a-ha moment. By creating a collective of curated art online, I could help people discover cool, emerging artists, in the same way that my family connected me. They made art collecting personal and approachable, which is what I hope to do with Liza Pruitt.
I love the tagline on your website “Connecting people with art that speaks their language” - what’s the philosophy behind it?
I believe art should give you a feeling. It should make you think. Therefore, the biggest advice I give my clients is to buy what you love, buy what speaks to you!
You carry a pretty wide variety of styles from different artists. How do you find artists (or do they find you?!) and what goes into the selection process?
When I first started, I reached out to the artists whose work I personally collected and connected with on Instagram. Now, after a year of being in business, I am fortunate to say that artists have found me via Instagram or referrals. My selection process really goes back to the core of my business: buy what you love. Therefore, I curate and work with artists that speak to me - art that I know I would love to have in my own home. This method also stems from my years of being in outside sales before starting my online collective. If I am passionate about a product, it is much easier for me to connect people to it.
What are some of your favorite pieces or artists right now?
Oh gah so hard to choose, as I love them all! But here is a piece that I am currently eyeing for my own home that is part of the collective. It’s titled “Blue Ridge Aerial” and is by Christen Yates. (You can shop it here!)
In addition to curating your online gallery, you also offer more personalized art selection services for folks. Can you tell us a little bit about what that looks like?
After my love for art is people. I love meeting and helping others find what speaks to them, so I offer online as well as in-home art consultations where I help place art in people’s homes.
What does a typical “day in the life” look like for you?
I am definitely one of those people who turns over in the morning to check my phone immediately for online purchases or emails that came in through the night, so I try to knock out a couple of emails before the day starts. Second, I check my Instagram. The majority of my clientele find me through social media so I usually post content in the evening or early morning, and am always checking for comments or messages to answer.
Then I get ready to head out for art consultations where I meet with art collectors or designers to help place art in their homes or projects. If I’m not out and about meeting with artists or clients, I am home on the computer prepping for the next art collection release!
Art by mother/daughter duo collaboration Caroline & Janie Pinney
You’ve done several pop up art shows (editor’s note: I had the pleasure of attending one back in November!), but can you ever see yourself opening a physical gallery space? If so, what’s your vision for that space?
I love being able to offer pop-ups to get people together and view the art in person. However, at this time, my dream is staying online to keep the art accessible to everyone. That way, no matter where you live or what your budget is, you can always view and shop the latest pieces on my site!
If you were to dream big, where do you see your company in five years?
In 2020, I’ll be focused on continuing to grow my online presence, especially in the art community. Long term, I am always working towards becoming the one-stop shop for all things art!
Where can everybody find you and follow along with you?
My website and Instagram are my most up-to-date sources to find the art! I hope you follow along!
Website: www.lizapruitt.com
Instagram: @liza.pruitt
Facebook: @lizapruittart
Pinterest: @lizapruittart
Thank you so much for sharing a peek into your story and business, Liza! Art can truly make our homes come alive and it’s wonderful that you’re making it accessible to folks. Your excitement is contagious! To my Mix & Match friends, head on over to say hi to Liza on Instagram - let her know what encouraged or inspired you from today's interview!
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Photos courtesy of Liza Pruitt and Alston Thompson Photography