Creativity, collaboration and art are coming together at Steamboat’s newest art gallery —The Alley Gallery and Art Studios.

Above the back entry of Del Mezcal, and in the alley between Seventh and Eighth streets, a gentle yet powerful transformation has taken place. Local artists Jill Bergman and Ann Feldman have opened the doors to their shared studio space and small gallery. 

For both artists, the space serves as the realization of long-held dreams.

“Ann moved to town maybe a few years ago, and we actually met at a writing workshop,” said Bergman, who has lived in Steamboat since 2002. “She had a studio space next to a friend of mine … and it came out that we both would like to have a place like this where we could work and have the public come. So we were kind of looking on and off … and then all of a sudden, it fell into place.”

For both artists, finding the right space was as much about timing as it was about vision. 

“I actually saw this space when I first moved to Steamboat … and I said, ‘That’s what I want,’ but it wasn’t ready,” Feldman explained. “Just one thing after another happened … and then when Jill wanted to do it, it all fell into place.”

The result is a quiet, creative sanctuary that is steps away from the bustle of downtown but is tucked far enough away to provide an intimate and reflective atmosphere. 

“It’s great for me because my studio is and was at home, which gets really chaotic,” Bergman said. “So, this is almost like a retreat for me. It’s calm.”

Visitors to The Alley can view original fine art prints and oil paintings, watch the artists at work and have conversations in a setting that feels grounded at a personal level. The layout includes two distinct creative areas under one roof for Bergman and Feldman and well-lit spaces to display their works as well. 

“We wanted that balance of being able to work and to show,” Feldman said. “Being in the alley is kind of the best of both worlds, because we’re findable, but we won’t be overrun … It’s a really nice balance, and we love the idea of making the alley a prettier place.”

That idea of enhancing overlooked spaces with beauty runs deep in both women’s work. As Bergman put it, “That’s what artists do. They find nooks and crannies, and they fill them with art.”

While the two artists had not previously shared a studio space, their creative paths had already crossed at a writing workshop.

“The Alley is really cool because we can help each other, and we can work together, but we’re also two separate people, with separate work, in our separate businesses,” Bergman said.

The collaboration has been seamless so far and both artists are happy with initial results of their teamwork. 

“One of us will step in to help the other as they need, and then we can step back and be in our own space at the same time,” said Feldman. “So I think it’s going to be a really nice match.”

Despite working in very different styles — Feldman paints Western landscapes in oils, while Bergman creates print work and illustrations — their shared inspiration is rooted in the beauty of the Yampa Valley.

“I love looking at her paintings so much. They’re so beautiful,” Bergman said. “It’s cool because her style is so radically different from mine, but I love her paintings.”

Feldman feels the same way.

“They’re so radically different that I don’t think we’re going to step on each other’s toes creatively, but feed off of each other … because we’re interested in the same subject matter,” she said.

Bergman, who grew up in Laramie, first came to Steamboat as a child in the 1970s. After moving back in 2002 with her husband, she immersed herself in the local arts scene and became known for her printmaking, illustration and involvement in community projects.

Feldman, by contrast, spent years in Chicago in a completely different field. 

“I used to be in international health care development way back in the day … and when my children started coming, I realized I couldn’t travel like I had before,” she said. “So I went to art school.”

After attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and teaching for many years, she and her husband moved to Steamboat, where she began painting the local scenery.

With the opening of The Alley, both artists are embracing new rhythms. 

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” said Feldman of being able to work in her own studio in a shared gallery.

For Bergman, it’s a long-awaited milestone as well. 

“I wanted a hub, a central place, where people could find me,” she said. “So having a place where I can have people over, and we can check out art, is wonderful.” 

While it may take a bit of looking to find this tucked-away space for art, conversation, connection and discovery, that’s part of the magic. 

“I think it’s fun to look for art,” Feldman said. “I think that people will like trying to find us — and finding us.”

Visitors can find The Alley behind West Lyfe at 729 Lincoln Ave., with regular hours 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, or by appointment.

For more information on Feldman, visit AnnFeldmanArtist.com. To learn more about Bergman, visit JillBergman.com.