Museum Bees are creating a buzz in the tiny, luxury art world. Explore the Kentucky studio

There is a lot of buzz going around about an Anchorage, Kentucky art studio and the Museum Bees collection being hatched there weekly.

Each Wednesday, artist and owner Trace Mayer releases a new round of his artwork called Museum Bees which sends customers swarming Instagram to be first in line to snap up their favorites.

Celebrated in Garden & Gun's 14th annual Made in the South Awards, Mayer and his Museum Bees collection is recognized as the winner in the Crafts category for the Decorative Wall Hangings in the December/January issue.

"There are no hard and fast rules for any of it, " Mayer told the Courier Journal. "It just seems to be the creative formula that I enjoy."

Luxurious, whimsical, and one-of-a-kind, over the past 12 years Mayer has created thousands (and thousands) of captivating and collectible art pieces made from recycled antique frames from the 1800s and what seems to be an endless assortment of ornamental golden bees, ducks, rabbits and dogs, plus Milagros, sea shells, costume jewelry, watch faces, pieces of old cuckoo clocks and curiosities.

And at $65 per piece, each Museum Bee is a little piece of affordable gilded luxury.

"A lot of people don't want a big huge piece of art, they want a little piece of luxury," the artist said. "They want a little taste of the cake rather than eating the entire bakery."

Inside Trace Mayer's Museum Bees studio in Kentucky

Mayer works out of a comfortable two-story studio filled with natural light located at the end of a gravel drive. The space works as a gallery and studio with hundreds of Museum Bees hung from the walls, displayed on tables, and waiting on shelves for the perfect buyer.

Just beyond the displays, Mayer and his co-worker, Garrett Stansbury, get busy as they cut, sand, glue and wax the frames or hunt for the perfect object to become the focal point for each Museum Bee. All the while, a big fluffy studio dog named Potter wanders among the customers who browse the containers filled with a hodgepodge of curiosities.

"Essentially this is a recycling project where we take 150-year-old antique frames, cut them down, and give them a new life as a tiny piece of luxury," the artist explained. "New shoes are fine. Broken in, they are without equal. There is no substitute for the beauty earned and polished in time."

How the idea for Museum Bees was hatched

Before moving his business to Anchorage, Mayer dealt with antiques and regularly resized antique frames to hold antique paintings. He writes about the beauty of these antique frames from the 1860s and 70s in his book "Museum Bees."

"Patterns on patterns, wild colors, detailed carvings, and ornamental textures." writes Mayer. "The frames are specific to their time. They reflect the fashion and culture of the era."

A dozen years ago, Mayer took the leftover pieces from an ornate 200-year-old frame, rebuilt it in a much smaller size, and added a gold Napolean Bee in the middle.

"The bee in the center had an unexpected effect," he writes. "It grounded the composition and let the frame become the focus."

From bees, Mayer expanded his hunt for castings of dragonflies, butterflies and frogs. He added to the collection with vintage brooches, belt buckles and women's compacts. Nearly anything small enough to fit on his frames is game — as long as it tickles his fancy.

"It's like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what you'll find inside." Mayer said. "We're also creating Museum Bees using charred bourbon barrels as the frame, oyster shells, and wood printing blocks from India."

There are no slow days for the worker bees at Museum Bees

Since 2011, Museum Bees has produced over 20,000 pieces with new frames offered to customers each Wednesday on Instagram.

"I try not to repeat designs and we produce between 250 and 300 unique designs each week," he said. "We sell in stores across the country and lots of sales come from the internet. We ship all over the world."

It's not unusual for customers to send Mayer photos of their personal Museum Bees collections. Some people have bought dozens and placed them on a shelf in front of books, hung them with framed artwork, or displayed a collection of them on a wall next to a doorway or a piece of furniture. The possibilities are endless.

Mayer signs every Museum Bee with the initials of the current Kentucky Derby winner. This year it was Mage so you will find an "MA" on the back of the Bees that were created in 2023. If you own a Museum Bee from 2018, there is a "J" on the back for Justify won the Kentucky Derby that year.

"We like to say that here in Kentucky the year begins on the first Saturday in May," he said.

Which Museum Bee is Mayer's favorite?

Of the 20,000 Museum Bees, some are silly, many are beautiful and refined, and others are sentimental, and that's what makes Museum Bees so pleasing. Museum Bees range in size from 1 inch to 7 inches and are backed by the motto "Bee Kind and Inspire!"

Mayer also makes unique custom pieces from family keepsakes like a tag from a beloved dog or the wedding ring of a deceased spouse. These one-of-a-kind pieces cost the same ($65) as all other Museum Bees.

The artist's personal favorite is not for sale and hangs on the wall near his desk. It's a framed leather tassel from one of his shoes.

"I had a dog who chewed off the tassel. I was so mad at the time," remembered Mayer. "I found the tassel shoved in a drawer after my dog died and made a Museum Bee. Now it's a sweet memory I can look at every day."

That's the beauty of these unique pieces, he added. Everyone can find one (or many) that speak to you.

"I am still finding endless ways to discover combinations," Mayer told the Courier Journal. "I love making these and I am constantly grateful that I get to wake up and spend my life creating something different than the day before."

How can I visit Museum Bees in Kentucky?

There are many ways to find your perfect Museum Bee. Customers are welcome to visit Museum Bees in person at 12404 Ridge Road in Anchorage, Kentucky. You'll also find them for sale at Scout, 3626 Brownsboro Road, and at Colonial Designs,3712 Lexington Road.

If you live out of state, check the website for a store near you or order online. Shipping is free on all purchases and Mayer is happy to exchange any Museum Bee for another if you change your mind.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Inside the Museum Bees luxury art studio by Trace Mayer in Kentucky