Something remarkable is happening in Gowanus. This month, during Gowanus Open Studios 2025 (October 18–19, 12 to 6 PM), The Shop Workspace will open its doors not just as a community hub, but as the site of a historic moment for Brooklyn’s arts community.
For the first time, artists will welcome visitors into the subsidized studios created as part of the Gowanus Rezoning, marking a major step toward long-term affordability for working artists in New York City. These permanent studios, located inside The Shop BK at 420 Carroll Street, are more than just walls and doors – they represent a new model for sustaining creativity in one of Brooklyn’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
And that’s only the beginning. In addition to our resident artists, The Shop BK is excited to share that we will be transforming 15+ of our offices and shared spaces into pop-up galleries for over 30 additional artists and exhibitions throughout the weekend, celebrating the breadth and vitality of the Gowanus creative community.
The First Subsidized Artist Studios in Gowanus to Open
The Gowanus Rezoning, years in the making, promised to preserve affordability and accessibility for artists who have long defined the neighborhood’s character. Now, that promise is visible in real time.
At The Shop Workspace, we’re proud to host the first subsidized artist studios established through that rezoning agreement, ensuring that local artists have a stable, inspiring place to create for years to come. This initiative, developed in partnership with Arts Gowanus, is a tangible win for cultural equity: a step toward keeping Brooklyn’s creative heart beating even as the neighborhood evolves.
Several of these artists have already settled into their new studios, filling the space with color, sound, and texture. During Gowanus Open Studios weekend, visitors will be able to meet them, explore their works-in-progress, and experience firsthand how these studios are shaping a new chapter for Gowanus.
This isn’t a short-term pop-up or seasonal activation – it’s a permanent commitment. By embedding subsidized artist studios within a larger flexible workspace, The Shop BK is proving that community development and creativity can coexist sustainably.
Beyond the Studios: 30+ Exhibiting Artists and Featured Shows
The Shop’s participation doesn’t end with the resident artists. Throughout the building, more than 30 guest artists and exhibitions will occupy our flexible offices and open areas, transforming every floor into a multi-sensory gallery experience.
Among this year’s highlights are two major exhibitions presented in collaboration with Open Source Gallery:
- “Witness Marks: Toward the Unseen”, an exploration of memory, materiality, and the traces we leave behind.
- A solo presentation by artist Juan Pablo Plazas, whose multidisciplinary work blurs the boundaries between sculpture, sound, and storytelling.
These exhibitions bring an international dimension to Gowanus Open Studios while remaining deeply connected to the local ethos of experimentation and openness. Visitors can wander from one room to another, discovering everything from photography and textiles to installation all housed within the same architecture that supports freelancers, designers, and entrepreneurs throughout the year.
It’s a powerful reminder of how adaptable spaces can serve a city’s evolving needs: one day a workspace, the next a creative showcase.
Plan Your Visit
Join us at The Shop Brooklyn, 420 Carroll Street, on Saturday and Sunday, October 18–19, from noon to 6 PM, as part of Gowanus Open Studios 2025.
Maps and artist directories are available at artsgowanus.org, which features the full lineup of 400+ participating artists across the neighborhood. Visitors can start or end their GOS route at The Shop, our location sits conveniently between the Gowanus Canal and Carroll Gardens, easily accessible from the Union St and Carroll Street subway stations.
Expect to meet artists in person, see works in progress, and enjoy the creative energy that fills every corner of the building.
About Gowanus Open Studios
Now celebrating its 29th year, Gowanus Open Studios is Brooklyn’s largest annual art event, drawing thousands of visitors each fall. Organized by Arts Gowanus, it connects artists, neighbors, and local businesses in a weekend-long celebration of creativity. For two days, the neighborhood becomes a living gallery—one that reflects both Gowanus’ industrial roots and its ongoing transformation into a hub for innovation and collaboration.
A Workspace That Works for the Arts
The Shop Workspace has always believed that creativity is the foundation of community. From Salt Lake City to New Orleans to Brooklyn, our spaces are built to adapt – to serve as studios, meeting rooms, galleries, or gathering places depending on the moment.
Here in Gowanus, that adaptability takes on new meaning. By integrating permanent artist studios alongside flexible workspaces, we’re helping ensure that creativity remains a constant part of the neighborhood’s future, not just during Open Studios, but year-round.
Whether you come to view art, meet local creators, or simply experience the energy of Brooklyn’s creative core, you’re welcome at The Shop. Our doors are open: to artists, to neighbors, and to anyone who believes in the power of community built through art. See you soon!
Visit us for Gowanus Open Studios 2025:
The Shop Workspace – Brooklyn
420 Carroll Street, Gowanus
Saturday & Sunday, October 18–19, 12–6 PM
artsgowanus.org | The Shop Workspace Brooklyn