Kendra Roberts shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kendra, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My husband and I recently joined the e-bike club, which has made a dynamic change in how we experience our beautiful city of Portland, OR. Neighborhoods seem closer, the stress of parking disappears, and we get to see things we wouldn’t normally see while driving. This includes the public art, murals, random music at different venues, new restaurants tucked away on quiet streets, and the heart of it all, people who make this city great. We love the sights and sounds that surround us on our rides, whether we are running errands, going into work, or just toodling around town.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an independent artist-curator currently serving as the director of public engagement at Blackfish Gallery and the president of the Portland Art Dealers’ Association (PADA) in Portland, Oregon. Since 1979, Blackfish Gallery is the longest running artist owned/operated gallery in Portland, and arguably this side of the Mississippi. Our members are committed to the highest standard of art and believe in full creative autonomy for each of our artist-members. Collectors contribute to this important ecosystem every time they acquire an artwork by one of our artists, who continue to make their own rules around the type of art they want to make and how to present it in our community. Blackfish artists are broad in their medium, content and contextual messages, as well as commercial viability and museum-quality work. After a successful 45th anniversary in 2024, we are looking ahead to our 50th in 2029. I am also the founder and chief curator of Common Ground Arts, a public art consultancy, and recently curated the well-received Terrain: a land art experience in 2025, as well as Terra Incognita, a land art exhibition in 2023.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I have been blessed by many teachers, mentors, colleagues, and leaders who have all shaped me and how I approach my work. Having said that, there are two that stand out. Working with Joyce Sommers at the Indianapolis Art Center was an enormously important step in my professional journey, as it introduced me to the world of arts administration and how that field is a powerful way to facilitate opportunities for artists. Under her intrepid leadership and alongside her incredible staff, I learned what being a visionary means and how that vision unites and inspires a team. I continue to channel many of those ideas and experiences to this day. I strive to emulate the culture she developed and nurtured wherever I go and in all the work that I do. Another is Donn Vickers, whom I met at a critical time in my life before moving to Columbus, Ohio, after many years in New York City. Because of his introductions, I was able to make a move to a new city, become involved in the arts full time as the director of programming and outreach at the McConnell Arts Center, and through the Next Generation of Leadership program (a program he developed and ran), as well as identify and center new models of leadership. His generosity of time, insight, and humor, continue to shape my ways of being when doing this important work.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Failure is always hard. I experienced being laid off, never a pleasant experience, which became a huge catalyst for change. I moved to another city and recharged my life in ways could not have imagined. What I learned is that failure at one thing does not mean failure in everything and that is a very important distinction. When something stops working, it is a wonderful opportunity for learning and growth. Those situations demand a closer look at yourself and how you might have contributed to whatever it was that failed. Once the sting wanes introspection starts, and who knows where the next ideas can take you.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends would all agree that art and family matter the most to me. I feel very fortunate and honored to be part of Blackfish, where art and family coexist. Outside of my own art practice, my jam is facilitating opportunities for other artists to thrive. Blackfish allows me the platform to do just that and within a unique environment where we consider ourselves a chosen, artful family.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
My parents like to tell the story about how I was making art before I could walk or talk. I am definitely doing what I was born do to and I am fortunate to have had a supportive early family life. Neither of my parents are artists, however they understood the importance of experiencing art and culture. Admittedly, they were not keen on my pursuing art all by itself, so there were parameters around my undergraduate education. So I went to a liberal arts university where I majored in fine art and took advantage of two semesters off campus at an internship and a study-abroad program. I figured out a way to make those restrictions work in my favor and yet also kept the parents happy. At one point, my father told me I was too smart to be an artist, so I have centered my career around how to be a smart, strategic thinker/maker/doer in my mission to amplify the work artists are doing. His remark became a guiding light in my approach to this work. It is therefore, not surprising that I landed at Blackfish Gallery, founded by artists who make up their own rules about the kind of art they make and the ways in which it is presented. No one is telling these artists what to do and while there may be some parameters in place, as there usually are, they are rooted in their creative autonomy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blackfish.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackfish_gallery
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendrarobertsmdes524
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackfishGallery/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM4GLTOb6h2pxtmjU_JLKdw
Image Credits
Headshot: Stephanie Honeycutt
Gallery images: Courtesy of Blackfish Gallery
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