Jessie Mees
For new (2026) Craft Alliance instructor and metals artist Jessie D. Mees, the path to metalsmithing started with exploration. While studying at Savannah College of Art and Design, she pursued a variety of studios before landing in the metals department. “I liked hitting things with hammers,” she says with a laugh, a sentiment that still captures her love for the physical nature of the craft. A self-described hands-on learner, Jessie brings an approachable teaching style shaped in tandem by 23 years of service industry experience and 16 years of metalsmithing. This summer she joined Craft Alliance as a Metals summer camp instructor, and this Fall she will be teaching 2 adult classes. The first is a 1-day workshop, offered on Wednesdays, where students create their own gem-topped sterling silver rings. The second class is a 6-week introduction to fold-forming class, also on Wednesdays.
Jessie describes her artistic practice as a form of “chaotic abstract emotional processing,” often becoming intensely focused on a particular theme before moving on to the next creative pursuit. Beyond her own work, she is a co-founder of the STL Virtuoso Collective, a community-centered space that showcases local artists and sells their work while retaining only enough revenue to cover overhead.
Originally from Ohio, Jessie has lived in Savannah, New York City, Denver, and France before settling in St. Louis six years ago. Outside the studio, she’s an avid traveler, cyclist, veggie gardener, and caretaker of cats and backyard chickens. She loves the energy of big cities but appreciates the opportunity St. Louis offers artists to build something of their own. Her advice for emerging artists is simple: persevere. Keep creating, keep showing up, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.
Portfolio
Videos
Sessions
16+
Start: 9/23/2026
End: 9/23/2026
Wednesday
2:30-5:30PM
Open
16+
Start: 9/30/2026
End: 9/30/2026
Wednesday
2:30-5:30PM
Open
16+
Start: 10/7/2026
End: 10/7/2026
Wednesday
2:30-5:30PM
Open
16+
Start: 10/14/2026
End: 10/14/2026
Wednesday
2:30-5:30PM
Open