SteVen Knipp’s Mad, Beautiful Vision

When you walk into MadJax, you expect to find power tools humming, local art on the walls, the smell of pizza, and a few axes being thrown about. What you might not expect is a hairstylist quietly painting a solar system onto a client’s head.

But that’s exactly the kind of magic SteVen Knipp brings to the maker community.

As the very first salon tenant in the building, and a driving force behind creating the salon studios at MadJax, SteVen didn’t just imagine a space where stylists could work independently. He built it. And through that work, he’s created more than a studio—he’s created community and opportunity.

From Survival to Self-Made

SteVen’s journey to becoming a stylist wasn’t straightforward. As a queer youth searching for belonging, he found his way to Ball State, then eventually to cosmetology school. At the time, cosmetology school wasn’t necessarily a dream; it was a solution.

What started as a practical choice quickly evolved into a career rooted in creative expression, self-sufficiency, and community.

“Hair became this huge creative and social outlet for me,” he said. “It helped me support myself without needing a boss, but it also gave me a way to give back.”

From designing hair and makeup at Muncie Civic Theatre to painting entire art installations onto clients’ heads, SteVen approaches hair as a serious art form. “We’re makers,” he says simply. “We’re making hair, we’re making style…we’re making wearable art.”

“Anytime you're expressing yourself, your place in the world, your opinions on social or political issues—that’s art,” he says. “Hair does that. It makes people feel seen. It gives them confidence. It reflects identity.”

A safe space behind the chair

For SteVen, hairstyling isn’t just about artistry; it’s about creating a space where people can feel fully themselves. His private studio has become a refuge for many clients, especially those who are LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or simply seeking care in a world that often doesn’t offer it.

“People come here and feel safe,” he says. “It’s inclusive. We can close the door if someone needs to cry, talk about their identity, or just be fully themselves.”

In SteVen’s chair, there’s no judgment—just time, affirmation, and support.

“Hair can make someone feel brave,” he says. “It can reflect who they are—or who they’re becoming.”

Salons at MadJax? That’s the point.

The idea of salon suites at MadJax might seem unexpected, but to SteVen, that makes it perfect.

During the pandemic, SteVen proposed the idea of private studio spaces to the MadJax team. Spaces where one stylist could work with one client at a time. It was a way to stay safe, yes. But it was also a way to build a different kind of future.

“This model exists in other cities, but Muncie didn’t have many,” he explains. “It lets stylists take control of their business, center their values, and grow toward their own goals.”

He pitched the idea, helped research pricing and models, and worked with contractors to bring it to life. From day one, it was about freedom: creative, personal, and professional.

Being at Madjax has offered more than just a room with a door. It has provided SteVen with independence and a sense of creative community that feels expansive. The space puts him in proximity to artists, builders, and entrepreneurs of all kinds—people who are also making something meaningful from scratch. That energy is part of what makes the studios work. As SteVen puts it, “Hair is art. And MadJax is full of artists. Being here makes space for what we do to be seen as creative work, not just a service.”

Creating space. Mentoring with purpose.

“It’s really rewarding to see stylists come in here, gain independence, build business savvy, and grow from the ground up,” he says. “I really believe in this dream—just helping stylists with their next step.”

That dream is alive in the studio next door. It’s in the stylist who started at MadJax and eventually opened her own salon. It’s in every conversation SteVen has with someone, wondering if they’re ready.

He helps them think beyond the chair, to the impact they can have on their clients and their community.

“I’m a door opener, not a door closer,” he says. “I needed this for myself, and I knew others did too.”

For SteVen, being a stylist isn’t just about the work he does behind the chair. It’s about the doors he leaves open for others to walk through with him.

Interested in building something of your own?

Madjax has private salon suites available—perfect for stylists, barbers, or beauty professionals ready to grow in a creative community. If you’re looking for independence, support, and a space that celebrates your craft, let’s talk.