St. Louis Wax Works

10/06/2026

Green Door Art Gallery is thrilled to announce its current exhibition, Waxtastic, running now through July 5, 2026. Celebrating the incredible versatility of wax as a contemporary medium, this high-energy show brings together a diverse selection of artwork featuring molten encaustic (hot wax), buttery cold wax techniques, and custom glass elements.
Moving far beyond traditional flat canvases, Waxtastic delivers a masterclass in texture, light, and dimension. Visitors will experience a striking visual dialogue where fire-fused, glowing encaustic layers by Eve Bayer, Dee Levang, and Leah Merriman collide with the dense, matte, and highly sculpted cold wax surfaces of Mark Witzling and Diane Reising. Pushing the material boundaries even further, an innovative encaustic and glass collaboration by Nicole Dutton and Mark Salsbury highlights the dialogue between brittle transparency and organic fluidity.
A public opening reception will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the gallery, located at 21 N. Gore Ave in Webster Groves. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to meet the artists, discuss their varied thermal processes, and immerse themselves in this highly tactile art form. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Event Details:
Exhibition: Waxtastic
Dates: On view now through July 5, 2026
Public Reception: Friday, June 12, 2026, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Green Door Art Gallery, 21 N. Gore Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119
Admission: Free

09/05/2025

Directly from my brilliant friend and fellow working local artist - THIS:

I don't like to post things like this, but I am passionate about it, it is important to me. They have proposed to end Funding for the National Endowments for the Arts, and have already terminated many approved grants to local St. Louis arts organizations.

But it's not just the NEA. Federal, Regional, and State grants are important and fund many of the art fairs, organizations, and local artists directly.

Don't think arts effect you in any way? What about the Magic House? The Gateway Arch? These and so many more organizations recieve grants, many through the Regional Arts Commission (RAC), to fund special projects and support arts in the area. Grants.

Are you going to the Laumeier Art Fair this weekend? Laumeier has received grants as well.

Not a visual arts fan? Ok, what about the Muny? The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra? The St. Louis Public Library? The St. Louis Film fest, Dance St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Stages St. Louis, Opera theater of St. Louis, Wildlife Recue Center...grants.

How will that effect me? As an Artist I am directly affected! This saturday I am doing Paint Webster, and Webster Arts has also received grant funding.

I personally know several artists who were awarded RAC grants directly. DIRECTLY. I hope to get a grant someday as well.

Art is connection. Think about how the art shows, music events, Galleries (one has already closed due to not receiving funds), cultural or community events, and theatrical events all bring us together.

At one point, I was just a shy girl who preferred communicating though my art than by speaking. Art is connection! Imagine if society didn't support that? I wouldn't have shared my art, been encouraged to continue and never would have had the opportunity to use my art to advocate for wildlife. It took so many people along the way really believing in me. Without their support, I definitely wouldn't have put my artwork out into the world. (I will probably delete this because I am still the shy girl.)

Art is therapy, connection, expression, creativity, innovation. Art supports economic growth and tourism. Without it? Well, what's the opposite?

29/01/2025

https://explorestlouis.com/whats-new/best-kept-secrets-of-the-st-louis-arts-and-culture-scene/

Insider tips on St. Louis arts and culture from the owner of Green Door Art Gallery, which represents 36 resident artists in Webster Groves.

07/01/2025

Lovely little messy squares.

22/12/2024

I’ve only got about four or five riverfront ornaments and *maybe* two more Art Hill Sledders left. Glow-in-the-Dark Ted Drewes are GONE. I can take special orders, but it’s not going to happen before the new year 🤷‍♀️

22/12/2024

Allison Norfleet Bruenger is the most magical social media guru. Thank you for your kind words, friend!! 💚

Come and view the beautiful world created with wax by Leah Bairdof Green Door Art Gallery. Each layer provides a artist view of the sights around us.

Let's learn more about Leah...
Leah Merriman is a mixed media artist working out of St. Louis, Mo. Her body of work include sculpture, printmaking, paintings and illustrations in encaustics, acrylics, and ink. When she's not wrangling small children, she creates art. As of late, her work has gravitated more towards "mediums which dry fast" so that she can work quickly while being a mom. She makes her own beeswax encaustic paints and uses a hot palette, multiple irons, heat guns, blowtorch and various burns to achieve depth and layers in city and landscapes.

Merriman, an artist native to St. Louis, went to Webster Groves High School and received her B.A. from Webster University. She began apprenticing under St. Louis sculptor Rudolph Torrini during her high school years and into undergraduate school. She lives and creates in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband, two kids, cats, dog, a small army of plants and one resilient bird.

Remember to come in and see the wonderful works of Leah and the rest of our guest and resident artists. Also, we will have EXTENDED HOURS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. We will be open on Monday and Christmas Eve. You can always Call, DM, or email us with your requests. We are here to Spread Holiday Cheer through the Gift of Art this year and all year long.