Meet T.J. Lesmeister | Founder – Petrichor Collective, and Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with T.J. Lesmeister and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi T.J., how does your business help the community?
Petrichor Collective exists to make Art feel accessible and human.

Our impact shows up in small, consistent ways. We create space for local Artists to share work, try new ideas, teach workshops.. We host events that are open to all experience levels, not just people who already feel confident calling themselves Artists. That matters, because so many people stop making Art simply because they think it’s not for them anymore or it is too expensive to keep trying.

We also prioritize connection. Community, open studios, film nights, meditation, conversations around creative process. These moments build trust and relationships, and those relationships are what keep a creative community alive long term.

On a broader level, we try to slow things down. In a world that pushes constant output and perfection, Petrichor is about process, presence, and care. Supporting Artists, honoring creative labor, and giving people a place to gather around Art is how we contribute to a healthier, more connected community.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Our Art is shaped by variety. Petrichor Collective isn’t built around one style, one medium, or one “look.” What sets us apart is that we’re a true mix of people and practices, all under one roof. The work that comes through our space spans a wide range, and that’s intentional. We want the community to see how expansive Art can be when you make room for different voices.

We’re most proud of creating a place where Artists can try things, show new work, teach, collaborate, and grow without needing to fit a specific mold. That diversity is what keeps the space alive. It also means there’s always something new happening here, new ideas on the walls, new conversations in the room, and new ways for people to connect through creativity.

Professionally, getting here was not easy or linear. Petrichor was built through a lot of trial and error, a lot of late nights, and a lot of learning as we went. We faced the same challenges most small, community-based spaces face: funding, time, and the pressure to do everything. We overcame it by staying focused on what mattered, listening to the community, building slowly, and treating relationships as the foundation, not an afterthought.

The biggest lesson we’ve learned is that real growth comes from consistency and care. Showing up, following through, talking to Artists, making space for newcomers, and staying rooted in the reason we started. Another lesson is that diverse community isn’t a buzzword. It’s something you build through action, over time.

What we want the world to know about our story is that Petrichor Collective is a living, evolving space made by Artists. We’re here to support creative work in all its forms and make Art feel accessible, welcoming, and worth showing up for, again and again.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If First Friday landed during the trip, that would be the anchor night. We’d start at Petrichor Collective, of course, then wander. That night is when Fort Collins really shows itself. Studios open their doors, Artists are present with their work, conversations happen in hallways and on sidewalks, and the whole downtown feels alive in a way that doesn’t feel staged. You don’t need a plan. You just follow the energy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d dedicate this shoutout to the Artists of Fort Collins. Full stop.

Petrichor Collective exists because of the people who showed up before it was fully formed, before the walls were filled, before anything felt certain. Artists who trusted us with their work, their time, and their ideas. Artists who taught workshops, hung their first shows, volunteered, shared meals, stayed late, and kept coming back.

So much of what we’ve built came from watching how generous this local creative community already was and simply trying to make space for that generosity to keep flowing. The conversations, the collaborations, the encouragement, the quiet support behind the scenes. That’s the foundation.

This space is shaped by the Artists who believed in it and by the broader Fort Collins Art community that continues to make room for one another. Any success Petrichor has is shared. It’s Collective by nature, because it was made possible by Artists who chose to show up and make something together.

Website: https://www.petrichorcollective.art

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petrichor_collective_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Explore.Petrichor/