DUMBO Open Studios celebrated its 10th anniversary with over 175 artists across 21 buildings participating in the weekend event. The open studios, jointly managed by Team Dumbo and real estate developer Two Trees, featured a wide range of work, with a noted highlight being works on paper from artists like Bianca Fields, Amy Cutler, and Jason Karolak. Despite rainy weather, the event fostered impromptu conversations and community, with more than half of surveyed artists reporting sales and expectations of future exhibition opportunities.
The event underscores the ongoing, though evolving, role of DUMBO as an artists' enclave amidst rising commercial rents. It highlights a model of private-public partnership where a major property owner (Two Trees) actively cultivates an artistic community through subsidized residency programs and events, providing crucial visibility and support for artists. The success demonstrates the enduring public appetite for direct engagement with artists in their studios, a vital counterpoint to purely market-driven art experiences.