Bekah Kolbe

About Bekah Kolbe

My name is Bekah Kolbe, and I'm a former resident of the quirky and culturally charged mountain town, Telluride, CO, now settling in on the other side of the San Juan Mountains in Durango, CO. Hailing from northern Indiana where my parents still live in their log home on their U.S. Fish and Wildlife Preserve, I attended Earlham College and went on to WWOOF in Puerto Rico, New Mexico, Vermont, and Colorado. I'm an arts enthusiast and arts entrepreneur, applying a multifaceted approach to supporting emerging and independent artists in their career pursuits.

My own artistic beginnings took root at an early age. Growing up in a musical and creative household with my dynamic six brothers and openminded parents, I was an engaged creative by age 8. My passion for art developed into a multimedia focus on piano, flute, watercolor, drawing, acrylic, writing, and graphic design, and by high school, I was admitted into the honors Studio Art program, exploring the path of becoming a fine artist through the mentorship of my high school's robust arts program. However, I spent more time counseling and guiding the portfolios of my fellow artist peers than refining my own body of work. It's no surprise that after studying Psychology at Earlham College and briefly considering starting a commune on an organic farm in Puerto Rico, I found myself back in the art world. In my first gallerist position at Blue Pearl Antiques & Art Gallery in Pierceton, IN, I discovered and fostered my passion for business in arts organizations. After several years and a meandering career path in arts organizations, I landed in Telluride, CO and served as Gallery Director for five years at Slate Gray Gallery in Telluride, CO. Through this position and the mentorship of Slate Gray's owner, I further coalesced my art background and business with an emphasis on supporting and mentoring local emerging artists.

When I'm not not at work, I enjoy perfecting my fried chicken sandwich recipe, gallivanting trails with my partner and our boisterous boxer mix, scouring thrift stores for retro finds and vintage knick knacks, binging art-house films, working on my own creative pursuits, and planning my next road trip.