Business & Tech

Lafayette High Alum Realizes Artist Dream

One fortunate graduate from Lafayette High School demonstrates his pottery skills Tuesday and to what he's so looking forward, while Sterling Bank gets recognized for making the largest financial donation ever to the Saint Louis Art Fair.

St. Louis’ art community just got a $100,000 boost. It’s the largest donation ever given to the Saint Louis Art Fair, and with it came the opportunity of a lifetime for one of 's artistic alums. That opportunity is being showcased Tuesday afternoon.

Previously, the largest contribution to the fair was $50,000. Saint Louis Art Fair Executive Director Cindy Lerick said the sponsorship will strengthen the foundation of the event, and provide new opportunities for enhancements that build on the mission of celebrating and sharing arts' experiences.

This generous, six-figure gift came from Sterling Bank, which is an entity fairly new to Clayton, but already committed to investing in St. Louis arts. In fact, the bank itself is filled with art, including a couch made of silver half dollars.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

On Tuesday, one more valuable piece will be added to the bank's art collection. Lerick will present a piece of art to the bank, created by a St. Louisan Gregg Rasmusson, who now is realizing his childhood dream to show his work at the prestigious Saint Louis Art Fair.

Lerick will present a ceramic vase created by Rasmusson to Sterling Bank Chairman and CEO Ken Poteet as a gift of appreciation for this record sponsorship.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Rasmusson said he used to visit the Saint Louis Art Fair as a child and dreamed that one day he would be among those successful artists. Now he is one of them, and for that, he credits Mrs. Senti and Mrs. Pertle, his art teachers from Lafayette High School. 

He said his high school art teachers invested their time and energy in him, convincing him he could succeed as an artist. 

Rasmusson loves to share his passion for ceramic art, and will provide live demonstrations with his potter’s wheel today at the bank.

The Saint Louis Art Fair organizers recognize the contributions that artists,  such as Rasmusson, can make when they get the encouragement they need early in life; so they are establishing a new art program to inspire talented young artists. “Create” is open to artists from age 8 to 18, giving them the opportunity to sell their artwork at this year’s Saint Louis Art Fair.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Ballwin-Ellisville