To get to know Tess a little better, we asked her a few questions.

What do you love most about KC?

I've had the privilege of living all over the country, but nothing quite compares to Kansas City. The people, the history, the food, it's a place that easily becomes, and always stays, home.

What I've loved most about KC is the way people, organizations, and businesses take an active role in defining the community they want to be a part of. People readily and enthusiastically come together and that spirit of collaborative civic pride is unmatched.

What would you do on a staycation in KC?

For me the best vacations (and staycations) are ones that introduce you to new people, ideas, and ways of life. I think this is why I love museums so much - they invite you in and take you throughout space and time. With this in mind, my dream staycation would be a tour of all the incredible cultural institutions in the city including (but not limited to): Kansas City Museum, American Jazz Museum, Black Archives of Mid-America, Johnson County Museum, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Harry S Truman Presidential Library.

What's one KC classic product you can't live without?

You should have seen my suitcase on my most recent trip - I had bottles of BBQ sauce stuck into my tennis shoes! That's definitely my go-to gift when sharing a piece of the city, but you also won't find me without my 1KC baseball cap or my Charlie Hustle t-shirt... I guess that's three things, but how can you expect someone to pick just ONE KC product??

Check out Tess’s work below!