What I Learned From Opening (and Closing) My Dream Art Studio
In early 2024, I took a big leap and signed a lease on a beautiful artist studio space in Hoboken, NJ. High ceilings, bright natural light, and plenty of room to create and host events—it was the kind of space where you walk in and feel like something important is about to happen. After a few solid years of art sales and freelance design work, I thought, I can make this work.
I poured myself into it—making, curating, hosting. I learned what it takes to run a creative space, to balance multiple roles as both an artist and small business owner, and to bring an idea to life from the ground up. I met wonderful people and made connections I’ll always value.
The plan was simple: continue supporting myself through freelance design work, while using art sales and events to help cover the cost of the studio. At first, it started to click. But over time, the balance shifted, and I saw firsthand just how much energy it requires to juggle multiple creative roles in an economy that doesn’t always value them.
Along the way, trying to make a living solely from my art began to change my relationship with it. The pressure to create inventory or repeat what sold once over and over started to chip away at the creative freedom I’ve always valued. I’ve never been solely about the finished product as much as the act of creating itself; the feel of pen on paper, paint on canvas, clay taking shape in my hands, solving problems and creating new ones. That’s the joy for me.
By the end of the year, things became unsustainable and I knew it was time to close the studio. Around the same time, I stepped into a new role as Director of Experience Design at Warby Parker, returning to focus on the career that made the studio possible in the first place.
These days, I’m back in my small home art studio, where I’ve been creating since 2016, making art in my free time. It’s a more modest space, but more than enough… for now.
Stay tuned for my 2024 art recap. Now that I have some distance, I’m looking forward to revisiting this chapter and reflecting on what was accomplished along the way.
