Meet the Staff

Dan Ranjbar

DAN, GALLERY OWNER

Phoenix owner and an art collector in his own right, Dan is excited to bring art to historic Downtown Lawrence. His restored art deco building at 825 Mass is the perfect place to showcase over 500 artists. His love of art and design is reflected in this welcoming space. In his spare time Dan enjoys travel, adventure, and good food!


Rochelle

ROCHELLE, DIRECTOR

Rochelle has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pittsburg State University with an emphasis in Painting & Sculpture and a minor in Color Theory. Her and her husband, Curtis, have lived in Lawrence since 2000. They have 2 boys, Conner is a Freshman in College and Carson is a Senior at Free State High School. Rochelle finds it an exciting honor to step in as the Gallery Director at The Phoenix Gallery. She hopes to cultivate relationships with the artists and the customers who make Phoenix Gallery an important facet in the jewel that is Downtown Lawrence.


HarryHARRY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Harry is a lifelong Lawrence resident and artist. He is a ceramicist and sculptor with an emphasis in art involving paleontology and extinct species. When he's not working in the gallery, you can find him caring for his large houseplant collection, spending time with his beloved dog, Oslo, or researching for his next creation. His background in ceramics makes him perfect to help you find the kind of pottery you are looking for.


Olivia
Olivia was born in Lawrence and has lived here her whole life. With a Bachelors in Anthropology from KU, she loves learning about the intersection of art and different cultures. She’s been creating her whole life, with her favorite mediums being painting and collage. She enjoys sharing her love of the arts with the Lawrence community.
Emily
Emily was born in Lawrence, and has lived here her whole life. She recently graduated in May 2021 with a BA in Art with Minors in Art History, Anthropology, and Marketing. She has always loved art and creating, and enjoys sharing that love with other people. When she’s not working at the Phoenix Gallery or making art, Emily can be found reading, in a hammock in the park, or hanging out with friends and family.

Noah
Noah, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, received his B.S. in Microbiology from KU and has been in Lawrence ever since. He handles the behind-the-scenes logistics of the Gallery. While his artistic proclivities tend towards the literary, if you want some fun facts about vitreous enamel or a primer on some of the crunchiest words in the art world, (craquelure, triptych marquetry, nacreous, intarsia) Noah's your man!
marissaMarissa grew up in Marysville, KS. She's currently majoring in Illustration & Animation and minoring in English with an emphasis on creative writing. Her favorite thing about the gallery is the variety of art inside, each created by a unique artist with their own passions. In her free time, Marissa loves to go hiking, hang out with her friends, or listen to music.

Matt

Matt, originally from Lenexa, Kansas, is currently majoring in Illustration and Animation with a minor in Photography at the University of Kansas. In his free time, he enjoys taking film photography, creating art, and working out. His favorite part about the gallery is the accessibility that artists have to expand their styles and designs to new customers. 


Leah

Leah is a social work major at the University of Kansas, and is happy to call Lawrence home. When she isn’t at the Gallery, you can find Leah writing poetry, exploring local cafes with friends, and playing with her cats. She is passionate about literature, and enjoys adding elements of storytelling to her mixed media art. Leah loves helping people find art that allows them to express their unique style and originality.


IzzeIzze, originally from Wichita, Kansas, finds a new home at the Phoenix Gallery among all of the beautiful local artwork. A Photography & Design major at KU, Izze focuses her studies on political science and art history. She loves to listen to music, go to concerts, and experiment with cameras. When she's not at the Phoenix Gallery, you can find her somewhere between local thrift stores and KU art studios.