Step into pARTiculars Art Gallery and Teaching Studio, Old Town’s art cooperative, and you’ll feel it instantly: an airy, light-filled, whimsical whoosh that nudges you to slow down, look around, and let your artsy curiosity come alive.
This beloved gallery and teaching studio thrives on a collaborative model: a group of artists and owners who have spent 17 years nurturing something rare, which is a space built on shared vision, shared responsibility, and shared joy in the creative process.
One of those owners, Suzanne Connolly-Howes, spoke with us about the spirit and evolution of the cooperative. Her voice helps tell the story, but pARTiculars has always been an all-hands, all-hearts endeavor.
How It All Started: Storefront Windows & a Big Idea
In 2008, Old Town Lafayette was quieter. Storefronts along Public Road weren’t buzzing with ecclectic energy like they are today, and the city began placing artwork in vacant windows to breathe some color and creative energy into the street. From that spark, a visionary landlady named Nancy West, and a group of local artists (many with roots in Boulder’s cooperative arts scene) imagined something bigger: Old Town needed a gallery of its own.
They opened pARTiculars with 23 original artist-owners. Suzanne joined as artist number 15, stepping into a space buzzing with possibility. It was scrappy and spirited where the artists painted walls themselves, reworked unusual entryways, and continue to believe that art can anchor a community.
That cooperative spirit has carried pARTiculars forward. Today it operates with six owners, ten long-time artist members, dozens of consignment artists, and a thriving community of students and supporters.
“Our purpose has always been to nurture and promote artistic passion in our artists, our students, and the community. We’ve stayed true to that from the beginning,” Suzanne says.
A Space That Feels Like Art
The gallery’s personality mirrors the people behind it. Eclectic, joyful, slightly offbeat, and full of one-of-a-kind pieces that make visitors smile without knowing why.
“People walk in and say the gallery just feels good—light, open, welcoming. There’s humor, whimsy, and a lot of true one-of-a-kind art,” Suzanne explains.
Many customers return year after year. including family members visiting loved ones in town who’ve made pARTiculars part of their Old Town ritual. With mediums ranging from painting and photography to felting, silk art, jewelry, stitching, ceramics, woodworking, fused glass, bookmaking, and calligraphy, there’s something inspiring at every turn.
From day one, pARTiculars has been both a gallery and a teaching studio, a dual model that has kept it thriving.
The pandemic, surprisingly, expanded that reach. Zoom classes introduced pARTiculars’ workshops to people who may never have stepped through the door, connecting friends and families from across the country. When in-person classes returned, the momentum didn’t fade; it grew, creating a wider, more connected network of makers.
Today, the class lineup is intentionally broad and welcoming, ideal for curious beginners, growing artists, and multi-generational creators. Teaching isn’t just a revenue stream; it’s how the cooperative keeps artistic curiosity alive in Lafayette.
Community at the Center
Giving back isn’t an add-on at pARTiculars, it’s the heartbeat of the mission.
The 6×6 Community Show
A twice-yearly tradition where 80+ tiny artworks from residents of all ages fill the walls. It’s joyful, packed, and has even inspired participants to apply to the cooperative.
Student Shows
Celebrating the growth and creativity of the studio’s learners.
Art Night Out Mosaics
Collaborative public art created by kids, grandparents, newcomers, and longtime locals, which is now a permanent part of the building.
Artist in Action
Charitable initiatives, such as recently raising $11,000 for Sister Carmen in a single day through donated artwork, with more community-centered events planned for the year ahead.
The ethos is simple: art is better when it’s shared, taught, and used to strengthen the community around it.
A Catalyst in a Larger Creative Movement
As the first art gallery on Public Road, pARTiculars helped spark the arts-forward identity Old Town Lafayette is known for today. But Suzanne is quick to note: it happened because everyone leaned in.
The city invested in public art. Businesses opened. Art Night Out blossomed. Volunteers showed up. The cooperative grew. Together, they created a creative ecosystem bigger than any individual or business.
Today, pARTiculars continues fueling that ecosystem, including spearheading an emerging “Second Fridays” concept that would keep the “Art Night Out” spirit strong even when the colder weather creeps in. A cross-business collaboration filled with art, music, poetry, demos, and shared creative energy.
One of pARTiculars’ most defining traits is that its artists don’t sit still. They experiment. They reinvent. They say “yes” to challenge and change.
“Being a featured artist is an opportunity to push your own art envelope… to try new things and venture in a new direction. We want to help artists stay alive in their art,” Suzanne says.
This culture of evolution is why the gallery feels fresh every time you walk in. There’s always a new body of work, a new medium, or an unexpected artistic twist waiting.
A Shopping Destination Filled With Heart
Beyond classes and community events, pARTiculars is one of Old Town’s favorite places to shop. No matter your budget, you’ll find something authentic, handmade, and uniquely personal.
Visitors love that they can pick up:
- An affordable card or small handcrafted treasure
- A mid-range piece of jewelry, textile, or wall art
- A statement piece for home or gifting
“We have great cards and a lot of price points that are very affordable. People know this is where they’ll find something they won’t find anywhere else,” Suzanne says.
Every purchase gives twice: once to someone you love, and once to a local artist.
Two gifts in one.
That’s pARTicularly unique.
401 S. Public Road Unit 1, Lafayette, CO 80026