Stu House, a Baltimore-based creative organization, is a home for the underground.

The Stu House crew on set for Couch Talk, their interview series.

When you think of places with a robust artistic atmosphere, what comes to mind? You might think of large metropolises like New York City, Los Angeles, or Atlanta. But to Justin Wynn, Baltimore is the true hotbed for creatives.

At the young age of 24 years old, Justin is on a mission to put his city on the map as a hub for all things art-related. Thus came the Baltimore-based organization Stu House, which not too long ago was merely an idea shared between him and his two friends, Jason Obima and Joaquin Rice.

Justin’s creative journey began in 2019 when he was a student at St. Mary’s College in southern Maryland. During his early college days, while studying for tests and playing basketball for the school, he discovered one of the “Godfathers of Instagram art” as he puts it—Van Goath e, a digital artist known for his animated style. Inspired by his work, Justin started experimenting with drawing.

During our interview, Justin laughs as he recalls starting college as a sociology major, only to leave as a self-taught artist at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, art has taken over his life. He has poured his creativity into his passions, even launching his own clothing brand. His designs are trippy and edgy, giving classic cartoon characters like Minnie Mouse and Sonic the Hedgehog a contemporary twist—decking them out in streetwear fits, artillery, and piercings.

However, it wasn’t until 2022 that his love for art truly ignited his passion. That year, Justin and Jason attended Art Basel in Miami, Florida, where they were surprised to meet so many people from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) areas. Recognizing the disconnect within their hometown’s art scene, Justin, Jason, and Joaquin took it upon themselves to bridge the gap.

“When you go to other places like Miami or New York, Atlanta, Houston…you’d be so surprised how many people are from the DMV, let alone Baltimore. People here run this [creative] field, but they always leave and go to other places because [it’s] not curated like it should be here. And that’s the whole mission for Stu House,” Justin tells me.

Stu House, which stands for “Serving the Underground,” exemplifies its name well. The community organization, founded by the three men, provides a home for small artists and creators. Its team now consists of six members, all childhood friends and former schoolmates of Justin’s. Together, the group organizes and promotes art shows and networking events around the city.

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Their most recent event took place last month in celebration of Stu House’s first anniversary. They hosted a pop-up shop for Sacred Valley, a small Black-owned brand, and a workshop led by a local designer who created patchwork on patrons’ clothing in real time. And of course, there was food and drinks, too.

One of their biggest events featured 25 vendors, and the numbers are expected to keep growing.

“[Stu House] gives a platform to artists, creators, musicians, brand holders, models, film directors—anybody in that field. What we allow them to [do is] communicate with others and collaborate,” says Justin.

From his perspective, people gravitate toward the Stu House community because “It’s just genuine.”

Baltimore creatives have a lot to look forward to as Stu House continues to grow. Justin says people can expect more of their most popular event, The Market, where visitors can shop from local businesses and meet Stu House members. They also plan to tap more into the Baltimore music scene.

After learning about Stu House, I was reminded of the importance of community. As I watched Justin and his crew prepare for one of their Couch Talk interviews at the Digital Factory—the content studio where Stu House currently operates—it became clear how everything comes together.

Issa Rae, actress and creator of the HBO show Insecure, explains the meaning of horizontal networking: “Network across… look to the people next to you, see who’s just as passionate as you are, and work with the people around you to rise.”

It’s the for-us, by-us mentality that makes Stu House a promising success. What began as an idea between three friends evolved into a powerful force for good. Stu House is not just a sanctuary for underrepresented creatives; it’s a blueprint for mutual support and the benefits that come with it. Among like-minded individuals driven by boundless imagination and authenticity, the sky is truly the limit.

Follow Stu House on Instagram @thestuhouse.