A founder led, national collective of memorial artists.
About Sands of Time
Sands of Time began in 2011 as a one-person studio in Kansas City. Today, we’re a curated collective of 20 memorial artists across the U.S.—each creating handcrafted memorials with care, skill, and respect.
A few moments behind the scenes in our studios and from our former Kansas City showroom.
Sands of Time is a curated, in-house collective of memorial artists. We work across many materials and mediums and are united by one standard: treat every order with the care we would want for our own family.
Our artists live and work coast to coast. That means your memorial is created in the artist’s own studio, by the person whose name is on the listing—not outsourced, not mass-produced.
Our collective includes artists with diverse backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, and traditions. We serve families of all faiths—and families of no faith at all. What we share is a commitment to careful ash handling, craftsmanship, and compassion.
Owners Chris and Samantha are your main points of contact. They personally handle all customer service, order questions, and support from start to finish.
Sands of Time started with a single request in 2011: “Can you make something beautiful using my loved one’s ashes?” The response from that first family made it clear this work was about more than art—it was about comfort, connection, and remembrance.
For years, Chris created each memorial by hand from his home studio in Kansas City. As more families discovered us, we grew, welcoming additional memorial artists who share the same respect for the process and the people behind every order.
Today, Chris still creates a selection of pieces, but the heart of Sands of Time is the collective: artists from across the country creating meaningful memorials for families looking for something beautiful they can hold.
For a season, we had a storefront where families could visit in person, see memorials up close, and talk through options face to face. We no longer operate a physical retail location—but the experience helped shape the way we serve families online.
Choosing a memorial that involves cremation ashes is deeply personal. We don’t take that lightly. If you have questions—about process, timelines, shipping, or anything else—reach out anytime.
Note: Individual artists may share personal details (including faith or inspiration) in their own bios. Our About page represents the collective: diverse, respectful, and here to serve.
A 2016 interview with founder Chris Santora, filmed when Sands of Time was a one-person studio in Kansas City. This is the foundation the collective was built on.
