Art in DUMBO opens artist studios to public in Brooklyn
Art in DUMBO announces DUMBO Open Studios will take place on April 26th and 27th, 2025, from 1–6 PM and feature 155 artists in DUMBO who will open their doors to the community, giving visitors a look into studios, creative workspaces and exhibitions across the Brooklyn waterfront. Sharpe-Walentas Open Studios kicks off the weekend with a public reception on April 25th from 6-9 PM, offering an inside look at the studios and works of 17 artists in the annual residency program.
The annually curated weekend program preserves the distinct character of DUMBO, providing a unique opportunity for artists to engage with community and showcase their latest works. The 155 participating artists include representatives from five residency programs across DUMBO: BRIClab Contemporary Art, Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program, Smack Mellon Artist Studio Program, New York Studio School, and Triangle NYC.
One of the most competitive residency programs in the city, the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program (SWSP) awards rent-free working studio space to 17 visual artists for one year. The recipients are selected annually by a professional jury of contemporary artists. Open Studios will offer the public an inside look at what the 2024 cohort artists have been working on during their residency. Below is the full list of 2024-2025 SWSP residents whose studios will be open:
Sarah Bedford, Melissa Brown, Michael Candy, Mark Joshua Epstein, Pap Souleye Fall, Tatiana Florival, Justin Rui Han, Ellie Krakow, Beck Lowry, Leonardo Madriz, Kristen Mills, Anne Neely, Sagarika Sundaram, Rachelle Mozman Solano, Andina Marie Osorio, Mariana Ramos Ortiz, and Phyllis Yao.
The Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation, established in 1984 by Marie Walsh Sharpe to support gifted visual artists, launched its Artist Advisory Committee following a meeting organized by Chuck Close and facilitated by Irving Sandler. This led to the creation of The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Space Program in 1991, providing free studio space to artists in New York City. Initially located in TriBeCa before moving to DUMBO in 2008, the program also supported summer seminars and an artist hotline, now operated by NYFA. In 2014, the Walentas Family Foundation assumed sponsorship, and it became the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program. Since Jane Walentas’ passing in 2020, the program has remained committed to its original artist-run vision, guided by an advisory committee of prominent artists.
“DUMBO Open Studios reflects the vibrancy of this neighborhood and brings the community together in a unique way—it’s a chance to step into artists’ worlds and explore their creative processes up close,” Ariel Willmott, Cultural Affairs Director at Two Trees Management, said. “It’s not just about showcasing art; it’s about building relationships, sparking inspiration, and celebrating the creativity that makes DUMBO such a special place.”
Two Trees is committed to supporting initiatives that further the creative, cultural, educational, and civic discourse that is at the core of progress and growth for New York City. Two Trees and the Walentas family have long supported the arts and community development by subsidizing leading and emerging cultural institutions, artists, and community groups through the Cultural Space Subsidy Program and the Sharpe Walentas Studio Program; elevating DUMBO’s strong and vibrant arts scene through Art in DUMBO public events (First Thursday, DUMBO Open Studios, Shop the Studios), and making significant grants to area schools via Neighborhood School Grants.
Art in DUMBO
Art in DUMBO is an online resource for learning about the art galleries, artist residencies, and arts advocacy groups in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Art in DUMBO acts as a community coalition of these art organizations, uniting the individual organizations and raising the profile of the arts in DUMBO.
Through artindumbo.com and art in DUMBO social media platforms, each arts institution located in DUMBO is profiled and events are featured.
(Learn more: artindumbo.com)
Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program
The Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program awards rent-free non-living studio space to 17 visual artists for year-long residencies. Its mission is to provide working studio space and community for artists.
Artists are selected annually based on merit from a competitive pool of applicants by a professional jury composed of artists and members of the SWSP Artists Advisory Committee. On average, the program receives 1900-2000 annual applications. Resident artists participate in Open Studios, and Walentas Family Foundation program staff support the artists by coordinating annual studio visits from curators and museum/gallery staff, writers, and critics.
Biographies of current and past residents are available online.
(Learn more: www.thestudioprogram.com)
By Chadd Scott