The Community and Beauty of Sapphic Market

Queer, LGBTQ+ affirming spaces are important now more than ever for our community to feel safe, connected, and surrounded by chosen family. For my fellow WLW (women loving women) who are seeking a space to celebrate your queerness, explore sapphic art, and come together in community, look no further! 

OFM had the pleasure of interviewing Annie Marshall, the owner of Pink Pearl Denver, a permanent jewelry business. Additionally, Annie recently launched Sapphic Market, a vibrant hub designed to unite WLW artists fostering community, exploration, and creativity in realms spanning from art to kink. 

What is Sapphic Market? Can you share the inspiration and how you came up with the idea? 

Well, I had been experiencing one of the hardest years of my life. I was in a really abusive relationship, and I left that relationship, and I had a lot of coming to terms with what are the lower parts of myself, you know, that recognition and that shadow work of, like, that integration into your highest self and recognizing that the two are interchangeable, and you can’t really achieve your highest self without going through that struggle. And as someone who’s been through abuse, I was looking for ways to feel free, in a way to feel like I didn’t want to die every day, to be honest. I was really depressed, and because I was living in a world that I had created that was a prison of my own mind. I started to venture into a couple of different mediums, and then I started to create chain art, which is where my company, Pink Pearl Denver, came from.

I always really loved the feeling of chain (metal). I’ve always been kind of into BDSM, but not in the traditional sense that most people think of. I’m really into the sapphic, soft part of it. So it’s hard to advocate for that softer side because there’s really no place for it right now. And I think a lot of us really identify within that realm of having this mysterious, sensual side to ourselves but not wanting to wear a huge leather piece out in public necessarily, right?

So that’s where Pink Pearl comes in, and I do custom body chains, and those are specific because a lot of us when we go into the stores, the chains are not made for your body size. It’s a really great empowering experience for you to know that this is made for you, it’s going to last for your life. A lot of what I do is kind of more with sensory play as well. So I’m teaming up with Vanilla Kink, Awakening, and creating chains that are really high-quality, and so it’s something that’s transitional from the bedroom to the boardroom. 

As an artist I was going to all of these shows and occasionally seeing other artists that were queer and kind of a little bit edgy as well. I was like, okay, well, we don’t really have a venue that is specific to queer folks like us. There’s not a lot of space right now for lesbians or WLW love in Denver. So I came up with Sapphic Market, which is determined to create not only a life worth living but a safe place for queer women and founded as a haven for WLW art, blending the sophistication of a gallery with the comfort of a lounge.

There’s a huge majority of us who maybe are queer and have gone through the partying phase and still want community, connection and sensuality, all of that excitement, but not necessarily in a club environment. So I created the market with that in mind and have partnered with Nurture, which is really fantastic because they are all-inclusive. It’s specifically a really accessible facility, and it took a really long time to find something that was really fully accessible on both levels, and gender-inclusive for all bathrooms. Those are, like, really strict criteria for myself. But all of the artists that I’ve chosen have, so far really, really enjoyed the process, and it’s more about how I can bring their light out to more than just Denver right? I want to create a platform for not only local artists, but I’m bringing in international artists as well. 

How can you get involved with Sapphic Market, for artists and attendees alike? 

Just come check it out and see for yourself! Sapphic Market convenes every other month, with the next event happening on March 9 at Nurture. The venue prioritizes a welcoming atmosphere, wellbeing practitioners, beautiful co-working space, nourishing food, and diverse beverages, including nonalcoholic options. Nurture is a beautiful space for dynamic energy—It’s got something for everyone. If you are interested in participating as an artist, submit your art/portfolio with your name, pronouns, and your website (if applicable) to the sapphicmarket@gmail.com

What are future plans; what do you hope to share with the community? 

I’ve partnered with a lot of the local businesses like Awakening, Vanilla Kink, Mile High Queer Clubs, social clubs, and I’m really just looking at getting the word out to bring more diversity of artists because a lot of them are just a little bit nervous right? To share that part of themselves. And it’s just such a beautiful space, and I really want it to be known as such an accepting and open space. It is a specific criteria for what I’m looking for in terms of the style of art, but within that diversity is really, really highly sought after.

So the goal of the future is to make it a little bit more broad. I’d like to bring it out to 30 vendors or so. But that does require me to build it up a little bit. I also want to try and keep it accessible when it comes to vendor fees and what not for our artists so I try to create really reasonable fees and offer different payment options. We want to make it as possible for the art community to exist while uplifting them at the same time. 

Is there anything you want readers to know or feel? 

I think all of us are afraid of rejection. And I think that part of the reason I started the market was so I can learn more about that process as well. I never want anyone to feel like they’re not welcome or if their art isn’t chosen at that time that they aren’t welcome. I still want you in this space. I still want you to feel welcome in that community because it’s a vibe, right?

If you’re feeling called to it, it’s because you’re probably meant to be there and share in the energy and whether that’s making a new connection through a different vendor or maybe a mutual business connection or a friend connection. Like, there’s all sorts of connections that can happen at this event. And it’s specifically made for women to meet other women as well. So it’s, like, a great opportunity to meet someone that maybe likes what you like. 

You can follow Sapphic Market on Instagram @sapphicmarket.

Art by Mar Delio. @mar_de_lio, @mar.delio