DUMBO’s Creative Core Comes Alive: “Shop the Studios” returns with its biggest edition yet

In collaboration with Art in DUMBO and the DUMBO Improvement District, one of Brooklyn’s most anticipated creative traditions returns this season: Shop the Studios, taking place Saturday, December 6 from 1–6 PM. For one afternoon only, the public is invited behind the doors of DUMBO’s private artists’ studios—spaces that are rarely open to visitors—to explore, shop, and connect directly with the makers who shape the neighborhood’s vibrant cultural identity.

Across the cobblestone streets and industrial architecture of one of New York’s most dynamic arts districts, more than 80 artists, designers, and galleries will welcome guests into their studios. From painters and sculptors to jewelers, textile artists, photographers, ceramicists, and multidisciplinary creators, the event offers a rare glimpse into the artistic process—and a chance to bring home original work at holiday-season pricing.

This year marks the largest Shop the Studios to date, a testament to both the rapid growth of DUMBO’s creative community and the continued public appetite for authentic, local art experiences. In 2024, over half of participating artists recorded sales during the event; with 20 additional artists joining for 2025, organizers expect even more impact for working artists and neighborhood businesses.

A Neighborhood Transformed Into a Living Marketplace

Part studio crawl, part holiday market, Shop the Studios transforms DUMBO into a walkable, art-filled marketplace where each building reveals something new—from experimental emerging artists to internationally recognized names. Visitors can meet creators, purchase directly from the studio walls, and learn the stories behind the works they take home.

New this year, a preview event on Thursday, December 4 from 5–8 PM—held in conjunction with DUMBO’s First Thursday Gallery Walk—gives early access to select artists and studios.

Adding to the festive energy, Shop the Studios coincides with the DUMBO x Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market in the Archway, the towering plaza beneath the Manhattan Bridge that draws thousands of visitors each winter. Together, the events create a weekend-long celebration of art, design, and community—drawing collectors, neighbors, and holiday shoppers alike.

Spotlight on Featured Studios

Throughout the neighborhood, several locations stand out as highlights and must-stop destinations:

A.I.R. Gallery (155 Plymouth Street) — Offering postcards from its annual postcard exhibition and two new shows by women artists, continuing its long-standing mission to support an open exchange of ideas outside mainstream institutions.
Cuban Art Space (20 Jay Street 301) — Showcasing paintings, ceramics, books, posters, vintage clothing, and more, representing one of the world’s most significant collections of Cuban visual culture.
Peter Drake (55 Washington Street, Suite 254) — Featuring atmospheric landscapes by the renowned artist whose public artworks appear in the Long Island Railroad’s Massapequa Station and major museum collections.
Samantha Dion Baker (45 Main Street, Suite 1001) — Selling books, prints, and original illustrations by the bestselling author and artist known for her beautifully documented sketch-journaling practice.
NowHere Studio Program | Hiroshi Masuda (20 Jay Street, Suite 434) — Presenting vibrant, cartoon-inspired works that blend pop culture and Japanese motifs with humor and philosophical insight.
Rowan Renee (20 Jay Street, Suite M10D) — Offering fused-glass pieces, tintypes, and prints, with the possibility of walk-in tintype portraits from the award-winning artist whose work interrogates histories of violence and incarceration.

A complete list of all 2025 participating artists and galleries will be available on printed maps during the event and online.

A Celebration for Art Lovers, Collectors, and the Simply Curious

With more than 1,000 visitors expected, Shop the Studios continues to be one of the most impactful programs supporting working artists in DUMBO. Every purchase directly benefits creators and fuels the neighborhood’s creative future—making it a rare opportunity to collect meaningful artwork while keeping New York’s artistic ecosystem thriving.

The event is free and open to all. Printed maps with studio listings and price points will be available at the DUMBO x Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market in the Archway and in the lobbies of 20 Jay, 68 Jay, and 55 Washington Street. Visitors can preview the digital map at artindumbo.com and find dining and transportation resources at dumbo.nyc.

As DUMBO once again opens its doors—and its imagination—to the public, one thing is clear: creativity isn’t just part of the neighborhood’s history. It’s its heartbeat.

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