For stained glass artist Jokeeta “Quita”, creativity begins with a single pattern and a sheet of shimmering glass. “Stained glass is a bit like making a quilt,” she says. “You trace the pattern, cut the glass, and then you cut down the edges so the copper foil can stick.” What started as a new hobby quickly became something deeper. “People started recognizing my artwork and telling me how great I was. I was like, okay, I am pretty good at this.”
Her confidence grew piece by piece. She sold her first works, bought equipment, and rented small studio spaces wherever she could find room. But those early spaces were never quite right. They were small, limiting, and never felt like somewhere she could truly expand. “It was pretty to display my artwork, but it was not enough space for me to create. I felt cramped. I could not grow. I felt claustrophobic.”
When she discovered the opportunity to move into a combined studio and gallery space supported by United Arts, everything changed. “Having the studio and the gallery together is giving me the opportunity to let the light shine and broaden the number of people who get to see my artwork. They get to see it in progress.”
Walk by her studio window on any given afternoon and you will see people pause, step forward, step back, and then come in for a closer look. Her work resonates with a wide range of people. “People from all walks of life, all cultures, all beliefs see themselves in my stained glass artwork,” she says. Inside the gallery, visitors not only explore her pieces but discover the work of her suite mates too. “I really get joy in people coming into the gallery not only to see my work but to see what everyone else is doing as well.”
Representation has always mattered to her. For years, she did not see many artists who looked like her in the forefront of the field. But now, she feels momentum building. “Doors are opening. Things are clicking. It makes me want to do more and try new things and show the world what I am creating, what is inside my head and heart.”
She credits United Arts for helping her step into this moment with confidence. “United Arts is so open to supporting artists in general, no matter what type of artist you are,” she says. “They are giving me that little step ahead, just catapulting me out there to say this is your Quita. This is the person you knew nothing about before today and now look at her. Look at her work.”
Now, standing in her new creative home, surrounded by color and light, she reflects with gratitude. “I am thankful that at this point in my life, this is the right time for Quita, the artist.”
Her stained glass is more than craft. It is joy, identity, and resilience illuminated in every piece. It is art that invites people to pause, look closer, and feel connected.
Make stories like this possible. Your support helps United Arts uplift local artists like Jokeeta, expand access to creative opportunities, and strengthen the cultural vibrancy of our community. Every gift helps make art possible for all.
