We’re pleased to unveil an exciting new GS Mini design collaboration with Stio, the mountain lifestyle brand headquartered in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Stio x Taylor guitar collab showcases a limited-edition collection of nine Taylor GS Mini guitars, each featuring colorful custom artwork emblazoned across the soundboard.
To create the art for the guitars, Stio commissioned nine artists, each of whom have a local connection to one of its Mountain Studio® store locations. The artists designed visual pieces inspired by a variety of themes including the Stio brand, their local landscape, and mountain town culture, reflective of their personal artistic style. Their vibrant artwork was custom-created to complement the contours of the guitar top “canvas,” resulting in a bold and inviting visual aesthetic that’s matched by the GS Mini’s fun-to-play, sonically inspiring, take-me-anywhere musical personality.
Aside from the custom artwork on the top, the models in the Stio collection all feature standard GS Mini specifications, including a solid Sitka spruce top and layered sapele back and sides, and come with a structured gig bag with backpack straps for easy portability.
While the official collaboration between Stio and Taylor came to fruition recently, the connection between the two companies stretches back more than a decade, starting with a musical experience Stio Founder and CEO Stephen Sullivan had when he purchased a Taylor guitar.
“I bought my first Taylor about 15 years ago on the advice of a friend and absolutely fell in love,” Sullivan shares. ”I loved how it played and how it fit my playing style. As I learned more about the company, I also came to really respect the Taylor story and brand ethos. Later on, as we began opening our Mountain Studios, I made a dedicated spot for a Taylor guitar within each store and encouraged people to play by offering discounts of 5% off for one song, 10% off for two, and 15% off for playing a short set. It’s been wildly successful, and I think it’s really fostered a unique community element within the store similar to a campfire hangout.”
The GS Mini proved to be the ideal musical vehicle for the collaboration. One of the most popular guitar designs in Taylor’s history, the guitar’s comfortably scaled-down proportions make it accessible and appealing to players of all ages and skill levels. While the Mini’s musical virtues have made it a guitar that many professional musicians, from Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) to Colombia pop star Camilo, have played on some of the biggest stages, its not-too-precious personality has made it a guitar that people enjoy taking out into the world and sharing with friends, making it a fun and inspiring musical conduit. It’s hard to pass through an airport with seeing someone with a GS Mini gig bag on their back.
Every Stio Mountain Studio store location will display one of these custom-designed GS Mini models. All nine guitars will be available for purchase at Stio.com and built to order at the Taylor factory. The Stio Mountain Studio® retail stores are located in Jackson and Teton Village, Wyoming; South Lake Tahoe, California; Boulder, Colorado; Boise, Idaho; Freeport, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Bozeman, Montana; Bend, Oregon; and Park City, Utah.
Scroll down to see each guitar in the collection. To view the entire collection, learn more about the artists, and to order the guitars, visit Stio’s guitar collection page.
Bend – Original Artwork by Dámaris Monroy
About the Piece:
“This piece was created to portray how nature can provide both a haven and a playground to humans. To represent central Oregon, I included vanilla-scented ponderosa pine trees with the Deschutes river running through and a compressed form of the iconic Three Sisters mountain range in the background. The setting is a warm summer evening, my favorite season, camp is set and the canoe is docked. With a slight smile looking at all the beautiful things, the subject had a good day. Her headdress reflects my love for flowers and the common practice in my culture to wear them on our heads.”
About the Artist
Since a young age, Dámaris has always appreciated art. It is part of her character and she has always searched for ways to share it. Her art is greatly influenced by her three home towns. The culture in Mexico, her birth place, helps select my bright color palette. The 10 years of her childhood in Los Angeles, California inform the traces of urban, chicano and graffiti culture in her style. Last but not least, Dámaris has lived in central Oregon for the last 20 years. Popular for its nature scene, she can’t help but include nature in some way when creating art.
Boise – Original Artwork by Amy Dowell
About the Piece:
“I wanted to create something you could look at and put yourself in the middle of; smell the flowers, reminisce on past adventures and want to get outside and go on another one. As a newcomer to Boise, Idaho, I’ve found inspiration in the area’s abundant wildflowers and birds. Drawing on native species and the shades of blue that represent Boise, my piece aims to transport viewers to the heart of nature, evoking memories of past adventures and igniting a desire for new ones.”
About the Artist
Amy Dowell, a nature enthusiast raised in Wyoming’s mountains, celebrates the intricate ecosystems of landscapes through her art. With nearly 20 years of freelance and tattoo artist experience, she intricately portrays botanicals, birds, and florals. Inspired by the rich landscapes of Idaho, she explores with her husband and two sons, gathering ideas for her next masterpiece.
Boulder – Original Artwork by Jesse Crock
About the Piece:
“Named ‘Last Run,’ the inspiration came from an annual ski trip I take with my friends to Steamboat. Coming from out of town, my friends always want to ski until the lifts close. One particular day, the shadows lengthened and the sky exploded with color—and I translated that into this piece.”
About the Artist
Jesse Crock is a Golden, Colorado-based artist and elementary art teacher whose love for the outdoors and passion for teaching inspire his art. With acrylic paintings that capture the vibrancy and sharp contrast of scenic landscapes, he draws from his experiences as a climber and cyclist. His work showcases places not often depicted in art, and has been featured across Colorado, including murals for local breweries. Jesse is also the author and illustrator of two adult coloring books with the Colorado Mountain Club.
Bozeman – Original Artwork by Olathe Bigknife Antonio
About the Piece:
“Exploring Montana’s varied natural landscape evokes artistic inspiration. This piece delves into the beauty of duality, highlighting harmony in contrasting shapes, textures, and colors. I aimed to express the freedom of musical expression through the graceful movements of trout, water and plants. The piece emphasizes how differences, whether subtle or overt, can blend harmoniously, evoking emotions akin to music’s interplay of tone, instruments and narrative.”
About the Artist
Olathe (pronounced oh-lay-thee) is a Diné and Shawnee Indigenous artist from the Navajo Nation pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology at the University of Montana. She works in diverse media including printmaking, pen and ink, painting, digital media, and beading. Her experiences growing up immersed in her culture’s teachings of the natural world inspire her art, and she enjoys conveying intentionality and wonder through color and delicate, organic lines.
Freeport – Original Artwork by Ryan Adams
About the Piece:
“I was inspired by Stio’s motto ‘Let The Outside In,’ which is embedded into the design and informed the more natural, organic color palette. I wanted to tailor my signature gem style to Stio’s ethos and culture.”
About the Artist
Ryan Adams, based in Portland, Maine, is a painter and muralist known for his bold, colorful, and clever artwork. Drawing on his background in traditional graffiti, he creates large-scale murals, hand-lettered signage and studio pieces in his signature “gem” style. His work often addresses social and cultural issues while exploring form and abstraction. Ryan owns a mural company with his wife and exhibits in galleries and museums nationwide. He has worked with household name brands and co-founded Over Here Studio to showcase fellow artists.
Jackson – Original Artwork by Kellie Swanson, KSX ART
About the Piece:
“The story behind my artwork stems from a deep connection to Montana’s natural beauty, and the beauty of the Mountain West in general. I envisioned someone strumming this guitar around a crackling fire, nestled in a serene mountain setting adorned with vibrant wildflowers. My approach involved capturing this essence through a cyanotype print design, using locally sourced Montana wildflowers. Each bloom tells a tale of the untamed wilderness, echoing the harmony between music and nature.”
About the Artist
Joining us for a second collab, Kellie Swanson returned to the Jackson Hole roots that first drew her to the West—and made it impossible to leave. Based in Bozeman, Swanson is an alternative process photographer and artist. With a film and photography degree from Montana State University, she combines her passion for travel, skiing and sustainability in her work. Through her KSX clothing line, Swanson blends nature, photography, and self-expression, creating one-of-a-kind sustainable fashion pieces.
Park City – Original Artwork by Andrew Pollard
About the Piece:
“I love the desert and think that it represents the heart of Utah; I wanted to show the love for Utah from start to finish. The piece starts by guiding the eye from mountains up high, then rolls through the midland plains and finishes with a desert environment and a river.”
About the Artist
Stio Ambassador Andrew Pollard had the enviable opportunity to grow up as a skier in Alta, Utah. His childhood immersion in the Little Cottonwood ski community launched him into professional skiing as a young adult. Andrew has competed on the Freeride World Tour for the last six winters and coaches the Alta/Bird Freeride team. His love for art is second only to his passion for skiing. His unique drawing and painting style blends mountain landscapes with a street art vibe. His artwork can be seen on Freeride World Tour materials and murals around Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Tahoe – Original Artwork by Bryn Merrell
About the Piece:
“This piece is inspired by Mount Whitney, an icon of all that the Eastern Sierra has to offer: rugged summits, pristine alpine lakes, and expansive forests, especially during sunrise and sunset when the mountains are bathed in golden light. I wanted to create a piece that translated the sense of calm and appreciation we feel in the mountains. My hope is that it brings back memories of the mountains—or even better, sparks an idea for new ventures to come.”
About the Artist
Bryn Merrell, formerly in the outdoor industry, now thrives as an independent artist. Inspired by her outdoor adventures, she crafts whimsical watercolor and ink pieces. Rooted in Arizona, her art reflects the cultural blend of her current home, Tahoe City, especially the Sierra Mountains, inviting viewers into a world drenched in color.
Teton Village – Original Artwork by Jeff Leger
About the Piece:
“I immediately knew I wanted to work with Stio’s Jackalope mascot for this piece. Elusive. Scrappy. Hyper-dimensional tricksters that project a playful super intelligence before disappearing behind a rock outcropping, the Western American Jackalope has a curious way of capturing the imagination. Once I got sketching, I found myself unconsciously making a more calm, Zen-like creature with a message to deliver (I’ll leave exactly what that is up to you). I pulled in pieces of personal powder reflections and design elements derived from my hazy recollections of 1970s album cover art. Once collected, I threw these basic ingredients into the blender of my brain and hit frappé. The results…well that’s for you to say. Or better yet, for you to play.”
About the Artist
Stio Ambassador Jeff Leger moved to Jackson Hole as a wide-eyed teenager with an insatiable appetite for deep powder skiing and moments of extended hang time. Immersed in ski culture through the tutelage of founding members of the Jackson Hole Air Force, all hopes of him returning to “reality” were quickly abandoned. Over the years, Jeff has become a fixture in the ski scene from his constant photo and video documentation of Jackson Hole’s finest floatational moments—as well as competing in freeskiing & Powder 8 contests and the inaugural Kings and Queens of Corbet’s event. Today, he spends winter days in continued pursuit of alpine-derived experiences of alternative mental dimensions. Summertime finds him translating those moments to others through artistic mediums, including fabric dyeing, acrylic painting and multi-media concoctions.
Stio’s collaboration with Taylor is one of a four-part series of Stio’s new “(Featuring)” project, which highlights artists, makers and creatives who share the brand’s mountain perspective and bring unique expression to its product line. Each limited-edition series and collaboration is inspired by, and created for, exploring nature, the self and other unique ways to Let The Outside In®.
