WELCOME TO

pedestal

It all began with an idea to spread joy. Inspired by how empowered we felt after photographing one another, we embarked on a journey to create Pedestal: a production company committed to using photography, video, and film to center the joy of people of color.

We followed the traditional path, studying the sciences to become doctors and lawyers. We spent a quarter of our lives with our heads down in the quiet part of the library and finally graduated from Johns Hopkins University only to realize that what we really wanted is to pursue our joy.

meet the Sauce Scientists. 👩🏽‍🔬 👩🏾‍🔬 🧪

the sauce curators

  • Celeste O'connor

    co-Founder. head of production.

    As a Baltimore native, my personal mission is to redistribute power in the entertainment and fashion industries to black and brown people. As an actor with 7 years of experience on feature film sets, I bring expertise in directing clients, styling clients, producing video content, organizing photo and video shoots, and expanding Pedestal's reach.

    resume instagram. twitter

  • Mecca McDonald

    co-Founder. creative director.

    As a visual artist, my focus is on color, excitement, and boldness. My photos are vibrant, playful, and exciting because I believe in not only challenging societal norms but also having fun while doing so. I have over 7 years of experience with photography. One of my creative goals through Pedestal is to expand and influence how we see our world through visual art.

    resume. website. instagram.

As young creatives we’ve always wanted to center art in our lives. Ultimately, Pedestal is a manifestation of our desire for agency over our time and creativity as black women who have had to navigate white institutions.

Post graduation, Pedestal has been a leap into discovering our power as creatives. We believe that the art we engage with should reflect the power and beauty of people who look like us. In that way, our brand is vibrant, playful, and exciting because we are committed to not only empowering but celebrating each other.


Pedestal is an ode to all other black, brown, and non-white people who are choosing their joy.