Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Bell.
Hi Lindsey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
From a young age, I always knew I wanted to work in the arts. Growing up I was very fortunate to visit many renowned museums with my family. Getting to see and experience such amazing art left me thinking about how impactful these experiences can and must be for others as well. Art is something that can connect us to a deeper understanding of ourselves, more meaningful connections with others, as well as a connection to the world around us.
This sentiment compelled me to pursue a career in the arts over 12 years ago. I have worked in museums and other cultural institutions during those years, having the opportunity to connect with the public by creating engaging experiences for visitors and also getting to work alongside the artists who make the work.
It has always been a dream of mine to get to do all of that on my own, even before I ever worked at a museum. To own a gallery, work with artists to put together exhibitions, plan events, and connect with visitors, collectors, donors, and the larger community in a meaningful way. I always imagined it would happen someday in a vague future, with the timeline or details not always clear. The timing ended up being unexpected, but also perfect in that when the pandemic hit, I was faced with some bigger career decisions and ultimately left the museum position I had at the time. Starting a gallery in the pandemic was pretty scary with so many factors being unknown and difficult to predict. Simultaneously, however, it was also the perfect time to do so because I could really feel a sense of support and outreach within the Denver arts community between artists, arts advocates, and everyone in between. There is a lot of resource sharing, checking in on friends, advice, and support that really makes me feel even more empowered to be doing what I’m doing. And all of that is really why I wanted to start my own business so many years ago. I feel like working with local artists to showcase and exhibit their work is meaningful not only for them but also impactful for the community at large. I have been able to do this work with the help of so many people. I have enjoyed the process and I’m excited for it to continue to develop and grow.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting to where I am today professionally has not been easy, and at times definitely did not feel straightforward or like a clear path was set out, but I have been compelled, almost automatically or inherently, to be at the point where I am now. At times when I didn’t think I knew what I was doing, or that I was faced with a difficult situation, I was forced to move or make unexpected changes, veering from a course I had planned out for myself. As I look back, each of those things had to happen for me to be where I am today as a gallery owner. I have learned a lot from having to veer off course, growing out of setbacks, and changing trajectories. But really, each of those failures or challenges was a part of the original path as is seen in hindsight. I’m really proud of just sticking with it and getting up each day to take on something new. I am so lucky that I get to work with artists and share their artwork with the community.
We’ve been impressed with Bell Projects, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As the curator and director, I opened the gallery Bell Projects in 2020 in the Rino Arts District off of 35th and Walnut and held the first exhibition in December of that year. In that original location, I put on 8 exhibitions and worked with 25 local artists before moving to a new location on 17th and Detroit in the City Park neighborhood of Denver in January 2022. Bell Projects has a monthly exhibition cycle, rotating exhibitions to showcase a new artist or group of artists each month.
Knowing that gallery settings are sometimes intimidating or foreign to some folks, I strive to make exhibitions at Bell Projects accessible to a wide audience and create a welcoming environment for anyone to feel comfortable in. I am really proud of how I can support local artists at the gallery on a more immediate scale than I could ever do in a museum setting. That immediacy of urgency is really encouraging and empowers me to do what I do, and I think it is meaningful for the artists I work with as well.
I am really proud of the professionalism, organization, and care that I bring to the field. I am passionate about the local arts scene in Denver and I think that is reflected in how I run the gallery.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I mentioned it a little earlier, but growing up I was very lucky to be surrounded by, and introduced to, amazing art and artists. On family vacations, we would go to all the museums and my mom would frequently take me to museums around town as well. I’ve always been a big thinker and these experiences at a young age had me considering not only how I felt about seeing art, but how others might experience it as well. Personality-wise I have always been really quiet and introverted, so I think art was a way for me to connect with others, with history, and to understand expression and emotion through visual language and communication.
Contact Info:
- Website: bell-projects.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/bell_projects
