Great Lakes Creative Collective wasn't something I planned for years.
Honestly, it started because I was trying to figure out how to help my mom sell her artwork online.
The deeper I got into that process, the more I noticed a pattern. There are so many talented artists creating meaningful work throughout Michigan, but unless you happen to meet them at a market, stumble across them on social media, or hear about them through a friend, you may never know they exist.
That felt strange to me.
We're surrounded by creativity every day, yet some of the people making our communities more interesting are also some of the hardest people to find.
I've always had a soft spot for artists and small businesses. I grew up in a family business. My grandmother started a flower shop in 1979, and my mom eventually took it over. Being around a small business from an early age gave me a front-row seat to the work that goes into building something from the ground up. You learn pretty quickly that passion alone isn't enough. Even the best work needs people to see it.
As an artist myself, I understand that creating is only one piece of the puzzle. Sharing your work can be intimidating. Marketing yourself can feel overwhelming. Social media changes constantly. Building an audience takes time. Sometimes it can feel like you're spending as much energy trying to be visible as you are actually making art.
The more artists I met, the more I realized this wasn't a talent problem. It was a visibility problem.
That's really the reason GLCC exists.
I wanted to create a place where artists could be discovered, where their stories could be shared, and where people could connect with original work in a way that feels approachable. Not because art needs to be simplified, but because discovering local artists shouldn't feel difficult.
At the end of the day, this isn't just about artwork. It's about the people behind it: the makers, dreamers, experimenters, and creatives who continue showing up to create something new.
GLCC is still growing, and I don't have every answer figured out yet. What I do know is that Michigan is full of artists worth celebrating, and I'm excited to help more people discover them.
Thank you for being here.
Now let's find some artists.