BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO

In a creative landscape that often favors the polished and the mass-produced, NKollectiv offers something far more meaningful: a space rooted in community, collaboration, and the belief that art should be both seen and shared. Founded in 2021 by local artist Nicole Korbe, the gallery was born from a powerful mission, to champion Colorado artists in a place where their work can be experienced in all its vitality.

Showcasing artists working across painting, printmaking, clay, wood and metal sculpture, metalsmithed jewelry, and more, NKollectiv feels less like a traditional gallery and more like a living collection of the region’s creative voices. Located inside EASEL—Englewood Art Studios, Events, and Lessons—the gallery sits within a second-floor art hub in downtown Englewood, where creativity is actively nurtured.

We sat down with Nicole to talk about what it means to build a gallery with intention, why supporting local artists matters now more than ever, and how NKollectiv continues to evolve as a welcoming space for both artists and the community that surrounds them.

Can you share the story of how NKollectiv came to be and what inspired you to create a space dedicated to supporting local artists?

In 2016, I was a project manager in the electric industry, a career that I came to circuitously after years in environmental consulting, having earned my degree in the natural sciences. When I started to paint early that year, I thought it would be a short-lived exercise to ease my restlessness and give my creative side a workout. Instead, it took over my world! By the end of 2016, I quit my job and immersed myself in painting as much as possible, while paying bills with odd jobs and contracting work. I joined a cooperative gallery on Santa Fe Drive in 2017, and, after a few years, felt a familiar itch to start my own business. Because of my independent nature, I had been drawn towards this idea throughout my life, but had finally discovered a passion to marry it with. My passion was twofold – keep painting and help support other artists. 

As both an artist and a gallery founder, how has your personal creative journey shaped the vision and values behind NKollectiv?

Since my path to joining the artist community was a non-traditional one, it is important to me that NKollectiv maintains an open and welcoming atmosphere for artists of all backgrounds, and art admirers alike. I want everyone to feel comfortable in my gallery, regardless of their understanding of art, so they can feel confident talking with artists and discovering the types of art that most resonate with them. It is also important to me that experienced and knowledgeable collectors feel our gallery is worth a look. 

NKollectiv showcases a wide range of local artists and mediums. How do you approach curating the artists and work that are featured in the space?

Initially, the NKollectiv artists were those that I knew personally. In growing the gallery over the years, one of the biggest challenges has been selecting artists to be part of it—not because it’s hard to find them, but just the opposite. There are so many talented artists that I admire (I meet more each day), and narrowing the field is painful. The size of the Englewood location enables me to invite more artists to show in the gallery space, even if they are not full-time members. The space allows us to have juried and invitational exhibitions—with guest artists on display in one gallery room—hosted concurrently with a member show in the second gallery on the other side of the hall. Additionally, we have an auxiliary gallery space that can be rented by outside entities for their own exhibitions.

I am striving for a curated, cohesive look while showcasing a variety of styles and mediums among our artists. One medium we feature a bit more than most galleries is encaustic—a wax medium consisting of beeswax and damar resin, with or without pigment. The encaustic process requires heat to melt the wax before it is applied to the substrate. The gallery artists who use this medium are all quite different in their approach and style, showing the range of the medium. Additionally, we also have artists who work with oil, cold wax, acrylic, watercolor, collage, printmaking, clay, metal and wood.   

Community is clearly at the heart of NKollectiv. What does building and nurturing a local art community mean to you personally?

When I first took the leap to join the Denver art community, I was generously welcomed by other artists, both in the studio communities where I rented space, and in the cooperative gallery that I joined in 2017. I want to pay this forward by building the same kind of welcoming space for both artists and admirers of art.

As I strive for an inclusive atmosphere, I am challenged by the fact that we are on the second floor of a historic building, only accessible by stairs. Part of my goal is to work with neighboring first-floor businesses to display work and help make the art viewable by all, furthering community engagement.

The City of Englewood and the Downtown Englewood Development Authority have been fantastic partners in helping us collaborate with other arts and culture businesses in the area to make the area a destination on the Second Saturday of each month. This type of consistent outreach is vital to creating long-term relationships between business owners and the local community. I personally find this to be a meaningful and enriching aspect to actively participating in a larger business district.

Events play a big role in how people experience NKollectiv. How do exhibitions, openings, and gatherings help deepen connection between artists and the community?

Giving an audience the chance to view artists’ work is the primary reason we are here. The additional opening receptions, artist talks, and interactive art demonstrations provide more chances to engage with the art and one another. Likewise, it allows the artist to enrich their own creative experience through cultivating a relationship with art lovers and future collectors, and to be rewarded by witnessing how their work resonates with others.

What have been some of the biggest challenges and most rewarding moments of running a gallery and creative space?

The sheer amount of work it takes to keep a business running is overwhelming at times. My background in project management is useful here, but wearing so many hats is a big challenge. I have become a bit better at asking for help, and several of the gallery artists now assist in hanging new shows, helping with inventory management, technical tasks, and creation of promotional materials. Despite all the work, seeing each exhibition come together, witnessing visitors’ reactions when they resonate with someone’s artwork, and providing a place for community to gather, makes it all worth it!

For emerging artists who are looking to get more involved in the local art scene, what advice would you offer based on your own experience?

My experience as a self-taught artist is a bit different than many artists who may have a set plan that art school prepares them for. That said, I have met a huge number of artists who also came to their practice as a second calling. My best advice is to get your art out there! It is hard not to overthink it, and if you wait until you feel ready, you miss out on getting valuable feedback. Enter your work in calls for entry, ask to show in coffee shops, breweries, etc.  The first public spot I displayed my work in was a cidery taproom. It was scary, but I took the leap and asked. I sold my first piece to a stranger in that space. This experience gave me the courage to keep going. Weekend art festivals are another tool that I used to gain exposure and build an audience. They are also a great way to practice communicating about your art and increasing your comfort level with doing so. Present yourself professionally and with confidence. It is all a lot of work, but worth it!

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about for the future of NKollectiv and how do you hope it continues to evolve?

We just wrapped up one year in our current location in Englewood. When I moved the gallery from the Art District on Santa Fe, my goal was to utilize the increased amount of space to offer a multitude of uses. That is why I branded the overall space as EASEL – Englewood Art Studios, Events and Lessons. Now that we have settled in a bit, I am focusing on increasing the number of workshops and other events held on-site. I now have a dedicated workshop space for others to use to host classes and other creative events. In addition, we are launching a Writer in Residence program, bringing literary arts into the fold. I also envision holding live performance events featuring fashion, comedians and/or musicians. We also have a great outdoor balcony space that has been underutilized, and I would like to activate that space more in 2026.

For the full list of participating artist, and event schedule at NKollectiv, visit nkollectiv.com or visit them in person at 3485 S. Broadway.