The owner and sculptor of Full Spectrum Ice Sculptures shares what he loves about creating magic through sparkling ice.
For over two decades, Sean Leahy has been doing what he loves—hand-carving frosted masterpieces that, as fleeting as they are, can remain a cherished memory.
He started at a now-defunct ice sculpture studio in St. Louis, but eventually left to found his own company: Full Spectrum Ice Sculptures. Sean now creates custom-crafted,
brrr-iliant sculptures at his two shops. His shop in St. Louis serves Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City. His shop in Texas primarily serves Austin and San Antonio.
Q | When did ice sculpting first catch your interest?
A | I have an art degree from Webster University, and I was trying to find a way to apply that to the real world. My older brother was working at a place in St. Louis that had ice sculptures, and he said I should check it out. As an art student interested in learning a new medium, I started out as a paid apprentice at this business, Ice Visions. I fell in love with the medium and saw how I could be creative and make money doing art.
Q | What festive sculptures do you have the most fun creating?
A | I love doing the Grinch; he’s usually pretty sassy, and he adds a devious component to the party. Ugly Christmas sweaters are fun to do. I’ve made one with a knit pattern that says “Let’s Get Lit,” and it actually doubled as a functional drink luge.
Q | What interactive ice sculptures have you created?
A | We’ve built an interactive ice wall that just goes on a table, and so people can write a message, sign their name, or do a little drawing on the ice. Photo frames are always fun, people can stand behind them and get their picture taken. Having something that draws eyes from across the room is cool, but if it also keeps food and drinks fresh, the clients get more value out of it for that day.
Q | What’s one of your biggest events?
A | Thanksgiving to January are our busiest weeks of the year historically, with all the end-of-year holiday parties, corporate parties, and house parties. And then in January, we do a really big event, the Loop Ice Carnival in St. Louis’s Delmar Loop neighborhood. We create over 60 ice sculptures along the street. Probably the fan favorite is the ice carving demonstration we do in Fitz’s parking lot. Last year, I created a yeti snowboarding past the Arch while holding a bottle of Fitz’s soda. In 2020, I did my demonstration right after the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup, so I carved a Blues player holding the cup over his head.
Q | What do you love most about creating ice sculptures?
A | I really enjoy getting creative with it. Someone mayspecify theywant a Santa Claus sculpture–I like playing with that and coming up with different ideas to make it their own while still giving them what they want. Having fun with that and adding a special touch to these parties ads the brightness that a fresh snowfall lends.
The article was originally printed in the November/December 2025 issue of Missouri Life.
