Locals and visitors alike ducked inside The Collective event space Saturday to escape the chill and immerse themselves in color, chatter, and a vibrant artistic community.
The Valentine’s Pop Up Art Market held Saturday, Feb. 10 gave local artists a chance to sell their wares and connect to the rest of the community.
20 artists from different backgrounds and artistic mediums filled the space with paintings, photography prints, handmade ceramics, and more.
Local artist Erin Abraham organized the event alongside Laramie Artists Salon, a collective of local artists focused on building connections between creators of all different kinds of art.
“One of the things we’re trying to do with Laramie Artists Salon is really build up the artist community in Laramie, so I thought this would be a good way to try and do that,” Abraham said.
She sees it as a way to keep people engaged in the artistic scene through the cold Wyoming winter, when outdoor art fairs and farmer’s markets are not an option.
It’s also a chance to be festive.
Claire Pearson, the artist behind Prickly Pearson, was excited to weave a Valentine’s Day theme into her wares.
“I like the color and I like the heart. And I like, you know, the love motif—just celebrating the people you love and your friends and your partners and your family,” she said.
Pearson is a textile artist, and she filled her table with hand-crocheted flower bouquets. That kind of handcrafted work was popular with many attendees.
“I really love all the handmade stuff,” said Kendall Nahorniak. She was one of many attendees who expressed interest in making art themselves.
“I’m a little bit of a fiber artist myself, so I always love seeing the ways that other people are trying to make things come to life,” she said.
The pop up market offered artists a chance to build camaraderie with peers and passersby alike.
Tara Pappas, one of the exhibiting artists, spoke fondly of that togetherness.
“It’s a very supportive, tight-knit community. We’re not in competition with each other; we’re here to help each other and grow together,” she said.
Lisa Muller attended to support her daughter, artist Rose Gardener. “I think it encourages young artists—I just spotted a couple of friends, with children, y’know, little people—it encourages them to have a different perspective,” she said.
In addition to getting people out of the house and spreading awareness, events like this help local artists turn their passions into livelihoods.
“I grew up very crafty, my mom had this kids-knit book when I was little; I made a lot of really ugly skinny scarves,” Claire Pearson said.
She became a full-time artist in June of 2023. “It’s been a lot of fun! I feel very lucky and privileged to be able to do that,” she said.
Erin Abrahams hopes to host more events and to continue uniting the local art scene in the future. She’s currently planning similar pop up markets for Jubilee Days and for the University of Wyoming Homecoming.
