Pop Box Gallery is a collaboration between Laura Ritchie and Mavis Gragg that brings zero-commission visual art exhibits and multidisciplinary arts programming to unexpected places. Their curatorial focus centers around artwork that directly responds to the political, economic, and social issues of our time and and the project prioritizes artists and audiences who belong to historically marginalized groups, including BIPOC artists, queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming artists, and artists with disabilities.
Mavis Gragg is an art enthusiast based in Durham, NC. A seasoned attorney and conservation professional, Mavis’ work focuses on innovative, sustainable protection and growth of family generational wealth. In addition to hosting the annual Black Girl Basel, Mavis also co-hosts Meet the Artist talk series with Provident1898. Mavis’ foray into art collecting and service began when she served as a docent for the prestigious Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She has also served on advisory boards for the Contemporary Art Museum-Raleigh, Triangle Artworks + Law Committee, and Duke Performances. Mavis currently serves on the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation Board.
Laura Ritchie is a curator and arts organizer in Durham, NC. She is a founder of The Carrack, a community-supported art space that hosted zero-commission exhibitions and donation-based performances, workshops, and events from 2011-2019. Laura grew up in Salisbury, NC and studied at UNC-Chapel Hill (BFA), the Institute for Curatorial Practice at Hampshire College, and Duke University (MA). Her work includes curatorial projects at The ArtsCenter, Durham Art Guild, McColl Center, North Carolina Museum of Art, and Ackland Art Museum (Spring 2022). Laura has served on the Board of Directors at Elsewhere in Greensboro and Duke Performance’s Advisory Board and is currently a member of Durham’s Public Art Committee and Cultural Advisory Board. (she/her) is a curator and arts organizer in Durham, NC. She is a founder of The Carrack, a community-supported art space that hosted zero-commission exhibitions and donation-based performances, workshops, and events from 2011-2019. Laura grew up in Salisbury, NC and studied at UNC-Chapel Hill (BFA), the Institute for Curatorial Practice at Hampshire College, and Duke University (MA). Her work includes curatorial projects at The ArtsCenter, Durham Art Guild, McColl Center, North Carolina Museum of Art, and Ackland Art Museum (Spring 2022). Laura has served on the Board of Directors at Elsewhere in Greensboro and Duke Performance’s Advisory Board and is currently a member of Durham’s Public Art Committee and Cultural Advisory Board.