Meet Rosana Agrelo, the Co-Founder & CEO of The Painter’s Wife – the finest clothing and accessories for canines. Here, we chatted with the contemporary art entrepreneur to learn how she ventured into the world of dogs, after finding her fluffy companion Pepa!
Tell us about how you went from being an art world entrepreneur to becoming the Co-Founder & CEO of The Painter’s Wife’?
It turned out to be very organic. Josep, my co-founder, and I found an abandoned dog in the parking lot of our apartment and decided to adopt her. That’s how we realized that a dog in an urban environment, in a city where it’s cold and rainy, needs a series of basic clothing and accessories such as a raincoat, a coat for the cold, or a carrier bag. Something so simple was very difficult to find and that is why we decided to undertake this adventure. Ours is a project that has grown little by little and so you must familiarize yourself with all areas of the business. So, when the project became professionalized and we created a team, it was very natural that I was at the head.
What is the inspiration behind the name ‘The Painter’s Wife’?
In general, ours is a project that is inspired by the dog as a companion and inspiration for artists and creative minds. Our name has a double meaning. On the one hand, it is a tribute to all the very talented women artists whose work did not have the proper visibility, and on the other hand, it is a play on words with the surname of my husband and partner, Josep Pintor.
Throughout art history, who is your favourite artist x dog combo?
I guess William Wegman with his Weimaraners.
Do you have plans to collaborate with artists on any upcoming collections?
We have just collaborated with illustrator Andrea Cáceres in a project called The Puppy Project, for which she illustrated a manual for first-time pet parents, as well as designing a tote bag. Very possibly next year we will launch another surprise project with a young artist.
We all love a gallery dog! Do you bring Pepa along to your gallery visits? If so any tips on making your dog well-behaved in a public space?
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in most galleries and museums. This is something we of course respect and understand, but pet parents would very much appreciate a space outside museums where we can safely shelter our dogs while visiting an exhibition. I believe that a dog’s education depends on the attention and effort that their owners have invested in them. Dogs are becoming more and more integrated into our daily activities and contemporary owners are used to educate our dogs to behave well in any place, from public transport to a restaurant.
Can you tell us about any upcoming product releases or projects that your brand has in the works?
We are working on a collection of necklaces and leashes with a group of women artisans from our region in the northwest of Spain that we are very excited about.
You can find out more about The Painter’s Wife via their website: painters-wife.com or follow them on Instagram @thepainterswifeofficial
