Meet Kate Mefford and Courtney Miles Baraff | Art Event Producer & Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Mefford and Courtney Miles Baraff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate and Courtney, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Kate: Born in the small town of Brenham, Texas, my family members were either entrepreneurs or creatives. Going after goals and desires were valued, as was thinking outside of the box. Having vision and filling unmet business needs has been something my family has celebrated, which has shaped me professionally. It is always so satisfying to find solutions or fill voids and when I get to do that creatively…wow! I just can’t think of a better professional situation for myself.

Courtney: I grew up in Red Oak, Texas in a very tight-knit family that prioritized creative thinking and exploration of self-expression. My dad was someone who was integral in shaping my development as an artist and as a professional. He showed me what to aspire to as far as projects go, how to see things through, how to believe in myself, and how to have hustle and drive. The sky is the limit and I am always up for the challenge.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Rollup gives artists agency without being an agency. We curate private and commercial collections, produce live murals, design and implement youth art programming, facilitate commissions for original art, and collaborate with corporate marketing teams.

Courtney and Kate are committed to elevating the experiences of artists and their audiences through energetic curation, educational programming that serves both emerging and established artists, and the development of a thriving DFW art community.

In searching for ways to meet this lofty mission, we have definitely stumbled at times. The biggest lessons we have learned are to trust our instincts and to trust that there is a plan in store for us and our endeavors. When we do those things, we are able to work from an authentic place that is filled with warmth, hope, and incredible energy!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First and foremost, we would take anyone who visits for an afternoon tour of Dallas murals! After being visually blown away after a drive through the Tin District, we would stop at Harkensback to see our friend Julie McCullough to shop in Oak Cliff. From there, we’d park near Merit Coffee in Deep Ellum and grab an iced lavender latte and walk Blues Alley to see murals from a lot of our artist friends. For supper, we would go to the Original Seafood Bar on Greenville for ceviche dorado, guac, and an El Mero Mero (spicy mezcal cocktail).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Daily, we recognize that without Texas Christian University, we would not be The Rollup. We met freshman year and were roommates. We are so blessed that TCU gave us a soft landing place as we attempted to spread our wings and fly.

Website: http://www.therollup.org

Instagram: @the_rollup

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@the_rollup