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MeritMade is a Kansas City handmade-jewelry and metalsmithing studio founded in 2014 by Kelly Conner, a University of Kansas-trained metalsmith. Working from a studio in the historic Livestock Exchange Building in the West Bottoms / Stockyards District, Conner and a small team craft heirloom-quality sterling-silver and gold pieces using traditional metalsmithing techniques, and offer classes and lessons. The studio keeps regular public hours.

Description

MeritMade is a handcrafted jewelry line and metalsmithing workshop based in Kansas City. Each piece is made by hand from precious metal — sterling silver or gold — using traditional metalsmithing techniques paired with a contemporary, minimal, architectural design language.1 The work frequently incorporates unique stones, fossils, and found materials.1 The studio’s flagship “MeritMade Essentials” line is a modern, minimalist collection of simple, elegant sterling-silver pieces intended for everyday wear, each designed by Kelly Conner and handmade in Kansas City by Conner and a small team of artisans.1

Beyond producing jewelry, MeritMade operates as a working studio offering classes and lessons in metalsmithing.1 The studio occupies a suite in the historic Livestock Exchange Building in the West Bottoms / Stockyards District and keeps regular public hours (Tuesday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.).23

Ownership and history

MeritMade was founded in 2014 by Kelly Conner.4 Conner earned a BFA in metalsmithing/jewelry from the University of Kansas and then apprenticed for roughly two years with a well-regarded fine jeweler (cited as Kizer Cummings Jewelry).4 She stepped away from metalwork for nearly a decade to work in the corporate sector before returning to the trade and launching MeritMade in 2014.4

The business has maintained a sustained Kansas City presence, exhibiting at numerous regional art fairs over the years, including Art Westport (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024), the Plaza Art Fair (2017, 2019), and the Prairie Village Art Fair (2024).4

Sources

Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

  1. https://www.meritmadekc.com/about — asserts: MeritMade is a Kansas City handcrafted-jewelry and metalsmithing studio owned by Kelly Conner; pieces are made by hand from sterling silver or gold using traditional metalsmithing techniques with contemporary minimal/architectural design, often incorporating stones, fossils, and found materials; “MeritMade Essentials” is a minimalist everyday line made by Conner and a small team; studio offers classes/lessons. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  2. https://www.yelp.com/biz/meritmade-kansas-city — asserts: MeritMade, 1600 Genessee St, Kansas City, MO; category Jewelry; phone (816) 678-6920; listing updated March 2026 with photos. (Yelp page blocked automated fetch HTTP 403; details corroborated via Yelp search result snippet.) ↩

  3. https://www.meritmadekc.com/home — asserts (via search-indexed studio info): MeritMade located at 1600 Genessee St, Ste 623, Kansas City, MO 64102; phone (816) 678-6920; hours Tuesday–Saturday 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., closed Sunday/Monday. ↩

  4. https://www.meritmadekc.com/ — asserts (via official-site overview): Kelly Conner holds a BFA in metalsmithing from the University of Kansas, apprenticed ~2 years with a fine jeweler (Kizer Cummings), left the trade for ~a decade in the corporate sector, and returned to found MeritMade in 2014; lists art-fair participation (Art Westport, Plaza Art Fair, Prairie Village Art Fair across multiple years). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

See also

  • Registry
  • _Tier1-Non-Service-Local-Businesses
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Locally owned
  • West Bottoms