Meet the Staff: Gallery and Vendor Manager, Morgan Travieso
Q: What is your name and role at ArtUs Co?
A: Hi y’all! My name is Morgan Travieso, and I’m the gallery and vendor manager.
Store Manager, Morgan Travieso. Photo courtesy of Morgan Travieso.
Q: What goes into your role? How do you go about finding/deciding on who to include in the store? What do you look for?
A: As manager, I’m responsible for keeping the main store and gallery clean, reaching out to the vendors to restock their work, setting appointments, training new hires, and talking to new applicants. When I meet with artists who want to be part of our space, some of the main things I like to figure out are, can we get along, what are they looking to accomplish as part of our ‘team,’ and how long are they wanting to sell with us. Occasionally, I’ll find artists that follow us on Instagram (how I met South of Here!) and I’ll reach out to them before they’ve applied. I look for people who are upbeat, enthusiastic with creating, and who are interested in open communication and partnership. We’re fairly hands-on when selling the vendors and artists’ work, and I want to make sure they always know they can reach out to me with questions or concerns.
Q: Tell me about your favorite part of the job.
A: Two things: I like to meet new people! When new folks come in to meet with me, this is their opportunity to see the space, where they may be setting up, and to talk with me face to face. It’s also a time for me to get to see their work in person and not through a computer screen.
I also love set up day! When those new people get to come back in with all their stock, label their items, and make that space their own ‘shop’—the more pride they take in it, the more excited I get for them. It’s their own little store, whether that’s in a column, on the wall, or on a couple shelves. It’s theirs to make their own, and I love seeing what they do with it!
Q: What are you most likely to be doing when you’re not working?
A: What am I not doing! I spend time with my husband Matt—we go to lots of local events together, see family in Houston, and in our off time, we’re building a business of our own. If I’m not doing that, I’m at home writing my books, drawing, exercising, or hanging out with our cat (named Cat, of course).
Q: How did you end up at ArtUs Co?
A: Matt and I had seen the place one day in November 2020, and when we walked in on a day in January 2021, we got to meet the director Josh and learn about ArtUs Co’s history and previous organization called Pump Project. I randomly asked if they were hiring, and Josh encouraged me to turn in a resume. A couple weeks later, I met the manager at the time, Lili, and Josh, and the rest is history!
Travieso (right) pictured with gallery curator, Maggie Lyon (left), at the opening reception for Kent Burress’s solo exhibition.
Q: Do you have a favorite vendor at the moment?
A: I have MANY! At least one in every kind of art—from jewelry, to candles, to prints, to home goods, and everything in between. I love Shelby Elizabeth’s linework, Alexille’s leather and silver jewelry, and Robb McKenzie’s clayworks! I like the art for the artist, if that makes sense!
Q: What kinds of things do you see yourself doing in the future?
A: I’ve got some big plans around the future—from having books traditionally published, to creating a non-profit with Matt, and retiring in the near future. I aim to leave behind as large a legacy as I can, and impact as many people as possible while I’m at it. Maybe that’s with my art and writing, maybe it’s with my own personal story as Matt and I travel the world. Whatever it is, I’m going to do it with gusto!