Art Haus
“I started showing interest in art when I was pretty young.” Stephanie Hillman, the founder of Art Haus in Salt Lake City, has been immersed in the world of art since childhood. After moving from California to Utah at the age of seven, she began taking art classes in third grade and continued her artistic education through high school.
Stephanie’s passion for art led her to teach children’s classes at a local art center for over a decade, while also exploring various media such as watercolor and ceramics. “I taught while also dabbling in all the classes they offered - soaking up whatever I could.”
Although Stephanie initially pursued architecture in college, she realized her true calling was in the arts. “I did a lot of art festivals and markets around the city and realized that this was the direction I wanted to take.” Stephanie admits that her passion always took her down the road of wanting to teach. As she expressed, “I like sharing the knowledge that I gain from others. I think I found a lot of beauty in teaching kids. They are not afraid of anything, and they soak up whatever you share with them.”
In 2016, Stephanie transformed a small garage in Sugar House into her personal studio, where she was able to create her own art and teach some classes. The demand for her classes grew rapidly, prompting her to hire additional instructors and expand her offerings. “Art Haus took off in a way that I never thought possible - my intention was to have it as my art studio, but I quickly pivoted.” To further develop her business acumen, Stephanie participated in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which provided valuable insights and support.
In 2020, Stephanie’s landlord decided to sell the building that she occupied in Sugar House. She had to make a fast turn around and this is when Stephanie landed in Maven. “Tessa Arneson, the founder of the Maven district, took us in. 2020 was a hard year for small businesses. We got lucky. It was perfect timing, oddly enough, in that there were so many spaces because of the state of the pandemic.” Stephanie recalls knowing about Maven, but she did not realize what the mission was for small businesses. “At that point, they had only been around for a few years and were still growing.” She was amazed at how focused Tessa was on women-owned businesses and she continues to be grateful for how the Maven team supports the business owners. “The district is now so rich in small places. It is the best place in Salt Lake to walk around and shop and support local businesses.”
Today, Art Haus offers a wide range of classes for both children and adults, including pottery, painting, and drawing. With a team of fifteen instructors, the studio serves approximately 200 students enrolled in ongoing classes - from age five to adult, as well as an art camp for kids in the summer months. Stephanie continues to teach adult pottery classes, balancing her administrative responsibilities with her passion for instruction.
Beyond its educational offerings, Art Haus has cultivated a vibrant community of artists and learners. This sense of community reflects Stephanie’s lifelong dedication to the arts and her commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all who walk through the doors of Art Haus. Stephanie emphasizes, “The studio is more than just a business; it is a place where friendships are formed, creativity is nurtured, and a shared love for art brings people together.”
That sense of community is about to grow even larger. Stephanie found out at the beginning of 2025 that she will be expanding into the space next door. She said that this will add about 750 square feet to the studio. "We’re going to be able to add more classes and students. Our new expansion will basically move all the painting and drawing classes over there and then allow us to add more pottery wheels, more kilns, and expand the ceramic area." Right now, Art Haus has eleven wheels, and soon they will have nineteen.
Stephanie had been pursuing the idea of expanding within the building for a few years. “I do not know if I was hoping that space would become available because we really loved our neighbors, but when the opportunity came up, we took it. We have had wait lists on a lot of our classes for years. This expansion gives us the chance to open those spots to all the people who have been waiting for so long.”
