Nearly 25 years ago, a teenager in Chicago picked up an electric saw and changed everything. Inspired by a photograph of a nativity scene, Chris Knight set out to transform a flat image into a three-dimensional work of art — and sold it the same day he brought it to a mall kiosk.

The talent was obvious. But Chris put the saw down anyway, spending years chasing another passion: photography. In 2012 he opened an Etsy store selling prints on canvas, wood, and stone tile. Good work — but not quite the right stage.

Then came the turning point. More than two decades after that first piece, Chris returned to wood. Inspired by his hometown, he recreated the Chicago city flag in 3-D using reclaimed barn wood salvaged from a neighboring town. The response was immediate. Orders poured in. Each flag sold better than the last.

What started in the backyard of a small apartment grew into a sprawling loft studio on Chicago’s west side, staffed by an apprentice and a dedicated team. The commissions grew with it — city and state flags, business logos, sports team mascots, and custom signs for some of the country’s most recognized names.

Today, Chris Knight’s work hangs at Facebook headquarters, sits in the hands of Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, and lines the walls of Goose Island Beer’s taprooms at the United Center. His custom signs have appeared in restaurants, breweries, and stadiums nationwide — and his story has been featured on WGN News, Fox News Chicago, and CBS Radio’s Made In Chicago.

Every piece is still built by hand. Every order still gets his full attention. That hasn’t changed since day one.