A 'queer vendor market for every person' opens in Denver for Pride month
DENVER — What started as a monthly art club gathering has grown into one of the largest queer artisan markets in Denver. This weekend, The Wolf Den, an inclusive tattoo studio on Colfax Avenue, is hosting The Rainbow Market, “a queer vendor market for every person.”
“I love people being able to showcase their art,” said Elle Billman, one of the market’s co-hosts. “And I think it's such a vulnerable, brave thing to do, and being able to do it within and share it with our community … it just lights my heart on fire.”
In October 2021, Billman and her friend, Sophie Gilbert, formed the Denver Queer Art Club as a way for people who identify as queer to make new friends, create art and cultivate a like-minded community.
The club, which meets monthly at various spots throughout Denver, first garnered 12 people at their initial meeting.
“Now, every month, we have over 35 people that show up,” said Billman. “That really spoke to the need of having a queer creative space.”
For their meeting this month, the club is welcoming over 50 vendors to sell their goods at The Rainbow Market on Sunday, June 12. From hand-poured candles, art prints, jewelry, and vintage clothes to tarot readings, flash tattoos, and vegan waffles, Billman said the market plans to have, “all different kinds of vendors from different backgrounds.”
Last fall, Wolf Den, a queer, womxn-owned studio, transformed its front space into a fine art gallery to showcase local work. Jess Rose, partner to the owner of Wolf Den and one of the market co-hosts, co-curates the gallery when she’s not making her one-of-a-kind, leather bags.
“Our intention has always been to provide a safe space for the community, whether that be for fine art or for tattoos,” Rose said. “The Rainbow Market seems like such a lovely fit to expand in that way and create a really great platform for seasoned artists, but also creatives that have never put themselves out there. And they already know the Den is a safe space. It was really exciting to see the response.”
When they first posted the application for market vendors, Billman said she only anticipated maybe 10 people applying to be vendors. Much to her surprise, they received nearly 80 responses.
“Once we figured out that people wanted this that badly, we knew that we really had to go for it,” she said.
Billman, Rose and Gilbert are just some of the vendors selling at the market this weekend. Billman, who began making art during the pandemic, creates fine line drawings of the female form.
A Denver-based leather artist, Rose specializes in large-scale leather art and art to wear handbags. Rose plans on creating a special “Rainbow Capsule” for the market this weekend. The hands behind honeypot.stitchery, Gilbert creates unique, handmade embroidery.
Learn more about the market’s vendors here. The Rainbow Market is open Sunday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.