Gowanus Open Studios returns Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026, with working studios across the neighborhood open to the public from noon to 6 p.m. Organized by Arts Gowanus, the free weekend gives visitors a chance to meet local artists, see where they work, and discover art across Gowanus. The Shop Brooklyn at 420 Carroll Street is participating, with its artist studios open to visitors both days.
What is Gowanus Open Studios?
Gowanus Open Studios is Arts Gowanus’s annual neighborhood-wide celebration of local artists. For one weekend, artists across dozens of Gowanus venues welcome the public into their studios to share their work, talk about their processes, and connect directly with visitors.
For 2026, Arts Gowanus says hundreds of artists will participate across the greater Gowanus neighborhood. Admission is free, making the weekend an easy opportunity to explore several studios and venues at your own pace.
Rather than treating the event as a single exhibition, think of it as a self-guided route through the neighborhood. Arts Gowanus provides an artist directory and event map to help visitors decide where to go and who they want to meet.
Explore the official Gowanus Open Studios information and artist directory through Arts Gowanus.
What can you see at The Shop Brooklyn during Open Studios?
The artist studios inside The Shop Brooklyn will be open during Gowanus Open Studios from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors can come inside, meet participating resident artists, learn more about their practices, and see work where it’s made. The experience is less formal than visiting a traditional exhibition. Open Studios is an opportunity to talk directly with artists and get a closer look at the ideas, materials, and processes.
Meet the participating artists
Why are there artist studios inside The Shop?
The Shop Brooklyn combines coworking space with dedicated workspace for artists and makers at 420 Carroll Street. Some of the artist studios in the building are part of a wider Arts Gowanus initiative to create subsidized studio space as Gowanus changes.
That connection matters beyond Open Studios weekend. Arts Gowanus has worked to advocate for affordable, long-term space for local artists, including through a Community Benefits Agreement. The first group of those subsidized studios included spaces at 420 Carroll.
For The Shop, making room for artists alongside people working in businesses, independent practices, and other creative fields is one way the Brooklyn space can participate in the working life of the neighborhood.
Open Studios makes that relationship visible to the public for a weekend. More importantly, it gives visitors an opportunity to focus on the artists themselves.
How should you plan your Gowanus Open Studios visit?
Gowanus Open Studios is designed for exploring more than one location. Start with the Arts Gowanus map and artist directory. We recommend picking a handful of artists or venues that interest you. From there, build a route that gives you enough time to actually step inside and talk with people.
The Shop Brooklyn Open Studios details
Dates: Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026
Hours: Noon–6 p.m. both days
Location: The Shop Brooklyn, 420 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Admission: Free and open to the public
Organizer: Arts Gowanus
At The Shop: Participating artist studios will be open for visitors
Use Arts Gowanus’s official Open Studios map and directory for the latest list of participating artists and venues before setting out.
Make The Shop one stop in a wider Gowanus art weekend
The best way to experience Gowanus Open Studios is to explore. Visit an artist whose work you already know, choose a few new studios, and leave room to follow the crowds somewhere unexpected.
When your route brings you to 420 Carroll Street, stop in and spend time with the artists working at The Shop Brooklyn. Dozens of other venues throughout Gowanus will be opening their doors during the same weekend. Don’t miss our own local retailers like Brooklyn Builders, Hey Clay and Gowanus Marketplace.
We’re grateful to Arts Gowanus for organizing an event that brings artists and the public together. Thirty years of ongoing work supporting Gowanus’s creative community is no small feat!
Gowanus Open Studios takes place October 17–18, 2026, from noon to 6 p.m. Visit Arts Gowanus for the official map, artist directory, and the latest event information.
A separate Gowanus Current screening is scheduled at The Shop for Saturday, October 17 after Open Studios.
Join The Shop Workspace for a special community screening of Gowanus Current. This film, an 86-minute documentary, was filmed over the course of ten years as Gowanus faced an EPA Superfund cleanup, sweeping rezoning, rapid development, and fundamental questions about its future.
RSVP Here, Seating is Limited: https://luma.com/up7902xm