About Make Art MKE
Make Art MKE is an annual, outdoor, September event---the Sunday after Labor Day---held on the Mount Mary Campus In Milwaukee, WI. We proudly feature 175+ Artists & Makers, Fine Art & Handmade Goods, Local Food Trucks, and Live Music! A portion of proceeds each year has gone back into the Cooper Park area, helping fund things like Cooper Park improvements and art programming at the Milwaukee German Immersion School.
Our Vision: to preserve community connection while providing a space for artists to exhibit, sell, and share the love of their craft.
Our Story
The Mount Mary Starving Artists' Show was a staple in the Milwaukee art community for over 50 years and like many others, Mike Bate, the owner of local business Lit MKE, didn't want to see it go.
In 2023, Mike Bate enlisted the help of Sue Smith, owner of re:Craft & Relic to help him revive this long lasting art fair. Mike's vision for Make Art MKE was to honor the history of the Mount Mary event, while pulling in local makers of handmade goods and putting a focus on supporting the surrounding neighborhood.
The Mount Mary Campus borders the Cooper Park neighborhood where Mike Bate lives; Mike wanted this event to become an event for his community as well. A portion of their proceeds each year has gone back into the Cooper Park area, helping fund things like Cooper Park improvements, Emmanuel Lutheran scholarships, and art programming at the Milwaukee German Immersion School.
Make Art MKE had originally been promoted and organized under re:Craft and Relic’s list of events, but it became clear to Mike and Sue that it had a life of its own and was thriving. So after three successful years, in 2026, the pair announced a split—the good kind! Make Art MKE would move to its own website, and Mike was now empowered to fully take the reins of his passion project.
Mike and his team are passionate about carrying on the spirit of the Starving Artists Show and continuing to fill the Mount Mary grounds with artists, makers and creatives, supporting one generation while inspiring the next!
Milwaukee's Candle Man
Mike Bate, Owner of Lit MKE and Organizer of
Art & Hops Series and Make Art MKE
I started my small business in 2015 when I was a bartender/server and out of my primary frustration of seeing so many bottles and cans being thrown into the garbage. I knew there was something I could do to reduce the impact all of these bottles and cans had on the environment. I decided to act.
I noticed that so many of these containers were works of art. So I wanted to think of something that kept the beauty of the bottle, but would provide some purpose that people would want. I decided that I would try my hand at making candles. I was able to develop a method to make the transformation from trash to treasure. I am constantly developing my craft and researching new ways to reduce the environmental impact of the candles.
To stay true to my mission of contributing to an environmentally conscious lifestyle, LIT MKE candles uses a premium blend of soy and coconut waxes with 100% cotton wicks. I am always looking to improve the qualities of the candles and experiment with Each candle is carefully crafted by hand, locally in Milwaukee by myself. As the business continues to grow, I am excited to provide more opportunities for the community.