Since landing in St. Louis in 2021, Sophie Mendelson and Martha Bass have been building community one ice cream sandwich at a time, spinning nostalgia, individuality and queerness into the details.

Eschewing new materials in favor of ones with patina, he gravitates toward objects of wood and metal that have lived former lives, using them to communicate an unexplored direction, a way forward, a new energy.

He is at once a perpetual 13-year-old and full-blown adult, living his dream while keenly aware of the sacrifice he makes by building his life around his art.

For her, it’s about freedom of movement; for herself and for her customers, allowing them to build something beautiful on their terms, in their own neighborhoods.

John Beck didn’t always know what he was meant to do, but his hands did. From digging into high school art classes to crafting one-off projects at a welding job, he spent years circling his true love: steel.

By mixing color, texture and material, Theresa’s work is both strong and playful, a mix of sharp and soft, and always with an edge, much like those she designs for.

Her work invites you in, encouraging you to pair the small details of your life with hers.

Antonio credits everything to dance: his self-motivation, his discipline, his life.

Abbey and her team have carved out an environment where creativity and new ideas flow freely; inspiration that you can see in Daily Disco’s fresh, ever-evolving designs.

From Six Flags caricature artist to creating paintings sought after by Prince, Cbabi Bayoc has had a wide-ranging career in art on his own terms. He rejects the “starving artist” trope by smashing it to pieces: working on projects he loves and building a notable career in the process.

A bespoke clothing line for teens and tweens to inspire confidence and encourage personal style, with smart, graceful details and an understated elegance that lets the wearer shine.

An under-the-radar craft distillery producing a line of critically-acclaimed spirits.

His time in the military instilled in him the idea that when you do something - anything - it matters

She likens painting to a battle; a litany of emotions, the constant push and pull of relationships reflecting our own daily lives.

Hard work and a passion for learning all there is to know about watches have led Semyon to become a master of his craft.

Ellie Shepley loves the stories about how St. Louis came to be: the brick and metal bound together to build a city so long ago.

Jermain Todd believes in the power of making something.

Abraham Mohler likens the carving of stone to the unwrapping of a gift…

His shop is a menagerie of taxidermy and nostalgic designs and his clients are walking canvases.

“A part of riding a motorcycle is fixing it, I think. Knowing about it, getting your hands dirty a little bit.” This is what has driven Mike Henneberry for more than 20 years as the owner and operator of Sump Motorcycle.