We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristen Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kristen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Rela’s model was the creative result of necessity – it was a solution to a problem. When friends opened a coworking space in Columbus, OH, they asked their “art friend” for help planning wall decor for the space. They didn’t have the time or expertise to curate an environment, and we knew artists are always seeking opportunities to show their work. That’s when it sparked – we realized that we could align these related needs in an innovative and simple format. 

We envisioned a space where art and community intersected seamlessly. I imagined the walls of local businesses and homes becoming canvases for local artists, creating a dynamic gallery that not only supported artists but also enriched everyday life for employees, patients, visitors, and clients in these spaces. 

Through Rela’s wall-based pricing and straight-forward platform, anyone can source local, original art for display or purchase without an art dealer or any knowledge of art. Any space can be transformed into part of a decentralized, functioning, city-wide gallery. Work circulates through commercial and residential spaces and can be refreshed anytime for a new view. 

At the heart of Rela is the value we place on the artist’s work. It’s a celebration of their ability to present our world through various lenses, and a rejection of the limiting belief that artists should only earn through sales or commissions. In a world that’s increasingly shifting toward experiences over ownership, and conscious consumerism, it was clear that artists needed to be included in this transition. Otherwise, we risked diminishing the support for these vital voices in our society. For artists, Rela is a free option that reroutes artwork headed for storage, keeping work on view for a variety of audiences. Artists earn each month their work is displayed, building an important model of consistent support for local artists.

The core of the concept revolved around the belief that art is a shared experience, a gateway to new perspectives. The name Rela Art Subscriptions sprang from this ethos— that art is RELAtive and we all need space to explore that RELAtionship. It’s fascinating how a single piece of art can evoke different emotions in each viewer, and how changing the art in a space can transform the space’s energy and meaning. With Rela, we aren’t just changing decor; we’re reframing perspectives and weaving new RELAtionships between artists and their communities. 

So, when all these needs aligned, we knew we had hit on something special. The excitement came from creating a business that didn’t just sell a product or provide a service but sparked a continuous cycle of inspiration, impact, and connection. That’s the essence of Rela, and that’s why it works.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Kristen Brown, a maker, lifelong learner, and advocate for the arts. I’m a faculty member at Columbus College of Art & Design, teaching within the History of Art & Visual Culture department. I’ve fostered a commitment to equity in the art market through connecting people with original art in creative and ethical contemporary channels.

The concept for Rela sparked in 2019, blossoming into a full-fledged service for subscribers by 2022. Rela Art Subscriptions isn’t just a company; it’s a revolution in how art is consumed and appreciated. We offer artwork subscriptions that ensure displayed artists receive consistent earnings, while simultaneously transforming any space into a dynamic local art gallery.

My path into this point was not straightforward. After entering the workforce with a Fine Arts degree, I felt the crush of commercial art production and turned to teaching, earning my MA in Art History. Conscious of the importance of art throughout history and seeing the experience of local artists sharing their work, I saw the need for a model that values artists, connection, and art experiences. 

Art is for everyone, and should be an accessible part of daily life. Navigating the art market and envisioning artwork for your space can be challenging, so we simplified the experience.Whether it’s through our Display Plans which circulate work in commercial and residential spaces or our newly launched Small Works Plan which delivers to collectors nationwide, Rela makes art part of daily life.

Have you ever had to pivot?

We are always learning, iterating, and growing. 

Our wall-based subscription model is our first chapter, creating a tangible connection between local businesses, homes, and the beating heart of our city’s artistic talent.

Then the messages began to come in. We heard a call for more connection and growth beyond Columbus. We received message after message asking us to bring our service to different states as the concept was resonating with people across the country.

While the vision is to expand our wall-based service to other cities beyond our Columbus roots, that growth will take time and we want to share Rela now. So we nurtured a concept for art-curious individuals everywhere, expanding both reach and impact for artists nationwide. 

Our new Small Works subscription delivers original art each quarter, making it easy to discover and collect art. It all starts with our custom-built, Columbus-made Reframe, a refillable frame to instantly display 6″ x 6″ artwork from artists nationwide. With ‘Small Works’, we’ve distilled the essence of our wall-based model into a more intimate scale so subscribers can refresh their perspective on repeat. 

Our Reframe and Small Works are an important stride toward realizing a vision where the discovery, joy, and inspiration of artwork can be accessible to everyone. We’re holding true to our ethos while adapting to the call of our audience. I am immensely proud of this path we’re carving, where our expansion mirrors the development of a canvas coming to life, building layer by layer.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Rela has had excellent advisors from the start, but working with a team is game changing. My ambition for Rela’s growth is boundless, but my capacity to manifest every facet of that vision is not. Last year I was able to begin working with a Director of Marketing, Ash Steward, founder of Inhalt Marketing, who resonated deeply with the ethos of Rela, showing genuine enthusiasm and belief in the mission. The synergy between us was palpable from the start. 

Beyond their marketing prowess, Ash has been an anchor and compass. They have a remarkable ability to ground my flurry of ideas, helping me navigate the journey of bringing a brand to life. Together, we’re not just building a business—we’re crafting a legacy of art appreciation and community connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rela.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rela.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rela.art
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rela-art

Image Credits
Photo by Aaron Sheldon courtesy of Rela