Meet Mandi Masden | Actor and Entrepreneur

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

Hi Mandi, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Artists of color are often underrepresented in both the puzzle industry and the art world, both of which have extensive histories of exclusionary gate-keeping practices. Puzzles have long excluded Black and Brown faces and creativity, and even contemporary companies have very few puzzles that feature people of color. In the art world, a similar landscape of exclusion leaves artists of color struggling for space and recognition. A recent study found that over 85% of the work featured in major US museums belong to white artists, and that over 80% of American artists represented by top New York galleries are also white. These statistics are just one example of how cultural institutions can sometimes create barriers of accessibility and representation. This failure of inclusivity severely impacts how artists of color cultivate capital and generate value, and trickles down to us as consumers, continually influencing which artists we know and whose work we value. I started Apostrophe Puzzles to carve out a space where our art, our aesthetic, and our imagination came first and every purchase supports our creative freedom and economic liberation. I hope our puzzles bring you joy. I hope they help you carve out a bit more space for yourself. And I hope they make you feel seen. I hope they remind you that our art is gorgeous and desirable and valuable, and that we are allowed to engage with it.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Apostrophe Puzzles creates modern, fun, and vibrant jigsaw puzzles that celebrate the work of contemporary artists of color. We are Black-owned, woman-led, and dedicated to a future of art consumerism in which everyone can participate. Founded in 2019, each one of our bold, high-quality designs is an original artwork aimed at making art collecting more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. Apostrophe’s mission is rooted in a fundamental commitment to Black and Brown artists, people, and communities being seen, valued, supported, celebrated, compensated, and invested in. Each of our artists receive 12% of every purchase, and an additional portion of each sale is donated to a non-profit organization working to expand arts education and accessibility in communities of color. Our products are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and 100% recyclable.

Puzzle imagery has long been dominated by the white gaze, and though this has shifted in recent years to include more artistic styles and a greater range of subjects, the imagery remains generic and severely lacking in diversity. People of color were rarely featured – either as artists or subjects – and consumers of color were largely ignored by the industry. I started Apostrophe in late 2019 to create a space where the art, aesthetic, and imagination of artists of color came first. Each of our designs is dedicated to amplifying, championing, and valuing the artistic voices and contributions of these contemporary artists, and through our collections and collaborations we aim to change the face of art consumerism, offering a unique and affordable way to bring more art into people’s homes. Our art matters, and I believe that we are allowed to engage with it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love the Beltline and Ponce City Market, and of course The High Museum. Wayside Motor Lounge, Chattahoochee Food Works, Colony Square, and Lee + White are some great hangout spots. Westside Park and The Silver Comet Trail are outdoor favorites, and I love taking my dog to the Fetch Dog parks. Tabla, Antico’s. Forza Storico, Ginya Izakaya, and Crooks & Soldiers are definitely on my list, and Goodfellas Pizza is perfect for a little late night snack. I’m also a huge fan of Brooklyn Tea. I became friends with the founders, Ali and Jamila, back in Brooklyn, and they were actually with me when I came up with the name for Apostrophe. It’s a bit of a home away from home for me!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shout out most definitely goes to my mom, Margarida, and my sister, Stephanie. When I was living in Brooklyn I ran Apostrophe alone, and for a long time I was spent, burnt out, and overextended. Now being in Atlanta and having their help has truly been a game changer for me and I am so appreciative. They come with me to pop-ups and trade shows, help me with inventory, and ship out orders when I am on set or working on a show. Having their support (and encouragement!) has really allowed me to live the dream and I don’t have to choose between my company and my career. Thank you, thank you, thank you to both of them. I couldn’t do this without them.

Website: https://www.apostrophepuzzles.com

Instagram: @apostrophepuzzles

Facebook: @apostrophepuzzles

Image Credits
Wesley Volcy