Community Highlights: Meet William French of Catalyst Gallery

Today we’d like to introduce you to William French

Hi William, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Catalyst started in the summer of 2022 in Denver, Colorado, with the idea of creating a space that was both a studio and a gallery, somewhere we could make and sell our own art while also showcasing work from the incredible artists in our community. That vision came to life in a flex-unit warehouse at the Storage King on Mississippi and Huron, where we built out the first Catalyst Gallery. We spent two years there hosting workshops, events, and weekly art nights, working nonstop to make it a place where people felt inspired, comfortable, and excited to create and connect.

In the summer of 2024, we had the opportunity to relocate to Evergreen, Colorado, and expand into a much bigger, more professional gallery space. Since opening in September, we’ve hosted seven rotating exhibitions and now feature work from around 15 independent jewelry designers. On top of that, we’ve started creating our own lines of jewelry and apparel and have even branched into wholesale manufacturing and design, helping artists and local businesses bring their ideas to life. It’s been an exciting evolution, and we’re just getting started.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, starting and growing Catalyst has been a wild ride with plenty of challenges along the way. In the early days, just figuring out how to turn a warehouse unit into a functioning gallery and studio was a huge learning curve. We were doing everything ourselves, building out the space, organizing events, and trying to get people through the door, all while balancing our own creative work.

Money was always tight, especially in the beginning. We had to get creative with how we funded things, constantly reinvesting whatever we made back into the space. There were definitely times when we questioned if we could keep it going.

Moving to Evergreen was another big leap. We went from a DIY warehouse setup to running a full-scale gallery in a new town, which came with its own set of unknowns. Would people show up? Could we make it sustainable? Adjusting to a new community and building a following from scratch has been a challenge, but it’s also been really rewarding. Every challenge has pushed us to evolve, and seeing Catalyst grow into what it is now makes all the struggles worth it.

We’ve been impressed with Catalyst Gallery, 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?
Catalyst Gallery is a creative hub that blends fine art, jewelry, and design into one unique space. We showcase a rotating selection of art, featuring both emerging and established artists, while also curating a collection of jewelry from independent designers across the country. Beyond exhibitions, we design and produce our own lines of jewelry and apparel and offer wholesale manufacturing services to help artists and local businesses bring their ideas to life.

What sets Catalyst apart is that we’re not just a gallery—we’re a space built by artists, for artists. We know the challenges of making a living as a creative, so we’ve designed Catalyst to be more than just a place to display work. It’s a community, a resource, and a space where artists can connect, collaborate, and grow.

More than anything, I’m proud of the energy we’ve built here. Whether it’s an exhibition opening, a workshop, or just a casual visit, Catalyst is a space where people feel inspired and supported.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.catalystgalleryco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catalyst.gallery/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatalystGalleryCo/
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/bQqjLgS

Image Credits
Instagram Handles @pixel.bubs & @sqrl.x for all photo media.