Hidden Gems: Meet Rebecca Black of Sandrift Gallery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Black.

Rebecca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story with Sandrift Gallery really began when I discovered surfing at almost 50 years old. That might sound like a late start, but falling in love with the ocean at that stage of life was transformative in ways I never expected. The more time I spent in the water, the more I found myself wanting to capture those moments when I wasn’t surfing – the way light dances on water, the power and grace of waves, the entire sensory experience of being connected to the ocean.

What started as a personal creative outlet quickly revealed something beautiful: I wasn’t alone in this passion. The surfing community is filled with artists who are equally inspired by their time in the water. I began reaching out to fellow surfer-artists, and we discovered we shared this common thread – our art was deeply influenced by our love of surfing and the natural world around us.

The gallery became a natural evolution of these connections. When my friend Anna, who owns Sweet Art Bakery OC, mentioned she had a little studio space available in Laguna Beach, it felt like the perfect opportunity to create something special together. We collaborated to build Sandrift Gallery as a space where this unique intersection of surfing and art could be celebrated.

Every piece in our gallery reflects this authentic connection to the ocean, the beach, and nature. It’s not just about selling art – it’s about sharing the joy and inspiration that comes from that deep relationship with the natural world.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? Definitely not! The learning curve has been incredibly steep, and honestly, we’ve been figuring out the gallery business completely on the fly.

What makes our situation unique is that most of the artists at Sandrift come from entirely different professional backgrounds. I’m currently a professor of Informatics at UC Irvine, and our collective includes another professor, former engineers, people from tech and insurance fields, actors, school teachers – you name it. We’re all passionate artists, but the business side of the art world? That’s been a whole different challenge.

The art world is surprisingly complex and has its own ecosystem that’s pretty distinct from anything we knew professionally. When you’re used to human-computer interaction research or engineering problems, navigating art pricing, gallery relationships, exhibition logistics, and the nuances of the creative market feels like learning an entirely new language.

We’ve had to educate ourselves on everything from proper lighting and display techniques to understanding the collector market, managing consignments, and building relationships within the art community. There have been plenty of moments where we’ve looked at each other and thought, ‘What did we get ourselves into?’

We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have gallery owner and artist Mandy Brasa as our next door neighbor. She’s helped us in countless ways – from offering sage advice about the art business to literally seeing me struggling to hang a painting and coming in to help. Having someone like Mandy who understands both the creative and business sides of running a gallery has been invaluable.

But learning new things and getting to know new people has also been part of the adventure. We approach problems the way we always have in our various fields – with curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to learn. It’s been humbling, but also incredibly rewarding to build something from scratch while discovering this whole new world together.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re driven by a core belief that art should be accessible to everyone. That philosophy shapes everything we do – from our pricing to how we interact with visitors. You’ll find tiny wave paintings alongside giant depictions of our local kelp forests, with price points that welcome both seasoned collectors and someone buying their first piece of original art.

What people consistently comment on is how cozy and welcoming our space feels. Yes, we’re small, but we’ve filled it with treasures, and that intimate atmosphere carries over into how we connect with our community. We’re the opposite of the intimidating gallery stereotype – we want people to feel comfortable exploring, asking questions, and discovering something that speaks to them.

What really sets us apart is our transparency and educational approach. Most artists can be pretty proprietary about their process, but we’re completely the opposite. One of our artists, Kim Dwinell, is the author of the beloved Surfside Girls series – I actually discovered her work because my daughter and her friends were obsessed with her books! When I saw Kim at a library presentation teaching kids animation and character drawing, I knew she embodied exactly what we’re about.

Our ceramicist Cyrus Pejoumand constantly creates Instagram reels showing people his techniques and offers hands-on lessons. Most of us actually create our work right in the gallery – Bob Averill and Claire Miller are such fast painters, you could probably watch them create an entire painting while you finished your ice cream cone. And I sit in there making my light sculptures – so anyone walking by can come in and watch the creative process unfold. We’re not just selling art; we’re sharing the joy of making it and demystifying the whole experience. That openness and accessibility is what we’re most proud of.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Not surprisingly, my favorite childhood memories all involve water. I have these vivid memories of swimming in the lake at my grandmother’s house in Florida – there was something magical about that clear, still water and the freedom of just floating and exploring. What made it even more special was that someone had released carp into the lake, and sometimes I’d look down to see these large, graceful fish hovering underneath me. There was something both thrilling and peaceful about sharing that space with them.

It’s funny how those memories stay with you. We have a beautiful koi fish painting by one of our gallery artists, Sonny Craig Gurule, hanging right now, and every time I see it, I’m transported back to that lake, looking down at those carp suspended in the clear water below me.

Looking back, I can see how those early experiences planted something deep inside me. Even as a child, there was this sense of joy and connection I felt in the water that I didn’t find anywhere else. In a way, those childhood moments of pure happiness in the water eventually led me to surfing and snorkeling and diving later in life, and now to creating art inspired by that same love of the ocean. Sandrift Gallery is really an extension of that little kid who couldn’t get enough of being in and around water.

Pricing:

• Accessible

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sandriftgallery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandriftgallery/