Creative vibes spill out of every corner of G and Ry Roslie’s Slo Curio Studio + Gallery, a cool new art studio in a funky live/work neighborhood on Santa Barbara’s Eastside. G is a Korean American artist/maker who uses naturally dyed textiles to create abstract modern pieces that reflect the world around us. Ry is an assemblage artist who uses primarily recycled materials to create functional light fixtures that are true works of art.
The couple has been together for almost 25 years and lived in Santa Barbara off and on until the 2017 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flow sent them seeking shelter in Denver, Colorado. It was there that they first established a Slo Curio space, aiming to explore “a sustainable, eco-conscious way of making art and bringing fellow creatives and curious-minded community members together,” as G explains. They were thriving until the pandemic hit and ultimately inspired them to make their home in Santa Barbara once again.
While they loved their live-work space and artist community in Colorado, outdoor inspiration is an important part of G’s work and she says, “I’d have to drive for quite some time to get into the mountains. With running the shop, and working in there all the time, I just didn’t have a lot of time to explore. Whereas here, every morning I can go for a walk on the beach and get my little nature fix.”