We had the good fortune of connecting with Barbara Freeman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Barbara, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
I love meeting artists, chatting with them, learning their life stories, and hearing more about their work. They are all so interesting and come from so many distinct walks of life. We love bringing diverse, early-career artists to La Jolla. Nothing brings me more joy than giving an artist their first show!

We have had quite the wild ride at BFree Studio, the art gallery I opened in Downtown La Jolla last August. So far, we have had 13 shows! We have done nothing but learn and improve and continue looking forward to enhancing the artist’s experience more and more. Opening an art gallery has been the journey, but I love it!

Feel free to come by BFree Studio. We have an amazing schedule of exhibitions!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At BFree Studio, we pride ourselves on showcasing emerging artists and people who have never had a show. We try to recruit artists from diverse, underrepresented backgrounds as often as possible.

Also, we change shows every 3-4 weeks, which is very fast and creates lots of prep work. However, we enjoy being a fast-paced, dynamic arts space.

As we have only been open for a year, we have lots to learn still! So far, we have hit a few bumps but constantly adapt to any challenges that come our way.

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?
Living in La Jolla, I love walking around the village and by the beach with my dog, Luna. She is the star of the show. I frequent the cute local businesses of La Jolla, like Girard Gourmet, and Coffee Cup, all owned by really interesting La Jollans.

Additionally, I love taking a stroll at Torrey Pines. It is a must-see when in San Diego. Interestingly, our current show features Richard Trumbull and his abstract paintings of the scenery at Torrey Pines.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Annika Nelson! We met years ago and have been tied at the hip ever since. She is my twin in spirit. Annika is ever inspiring.

Her current venture is running the UCSD Craft Center, which offers art classes for students, faculty and staff, and the community. I highly encourage anyone to check out this fantastic creative space!

Website: https://www.bfreestudio.net/

Instagram: @bfreestudio.net

Image Credits
Sylvia Trumbull, Richard Trumbull, Jiela Rufeh, Tony Concep, Max Roemer, MTLE Artists

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.