Rodrigo Padilla, a hairstylist who built his career at Sally Hershberger and now serves on the Whitney Museum’s Drawing and Print Acquisitions Committee, discusses his art collection with his husband Elliott Trice. The couple’s Midtown flat features works by Latin American and diaspora artists including Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Amy Bravo, Verónica Vázquez, Angel Otero, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Dagoberto Rodríguez, and others. Padilla credits Whitney trustee Brooke Garber Neidich with inspiring his collecting journey by advising him to “see everything.”
Padilla’s story highlights how non-traditional paths—like a hair salon—can lead to significant influence in the art world, and underscores the growing visibility of Latin American and diaspora artists in private collections. His role on the Whitney’s acquisitions committee gives him direct impact on the museum’s curatorial vision, while his focus on smaller galleries champions emerging talent outside the mainstream market.