Atelier Artist, a new affordable and inclusive artist and professional creative co-working studio in Central Brooklyn, debuts “Lakay” on Sunday, Sept. 14, showcasing a dozen artists from its residency program.
“We established Brooklyn’s first BIPOC-owned and-operated co-working artist studio with a focus on empowering our community as the first and foremost priority, and the artists featured in our inaugural exhibit reflect that,” Co-founder Jonathan Pierre Lafleur told Caribbean Life on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
He said “Lakay,” which is the Haitian Kreyòl word for “home,” “emulates the Caribbean Diaspora’s sense of home – by boosting culture pride, sense of belonging, and a collective spirit of resilience.
“Just like ‘Lakay’ means a lot more than home to immigrants, we are much more than another studio space — Lakay’s values define Atelier Artist’s mission,” Pierre added.
As a home for all creatives, he said the residency provides 24/7 studio access, monthly exhibitions, artist talks, and community-driven programming including healing circles, open mics, and mixers.
“By amplifying BIPOC, immigrant, queer, and emerging voices, Atelier Artist aims to serve as a cultural anchor and incubator for Brooklyn’s artistic future,” Pierre said.
“This space was born from our own struggles as artists seeking affordable places to create,” said Franck Henry Godefroy, co-founder and managing partner of Atelier Artist. “We wanted to build a home where our community can thrive, connect, and celebrate its cultural identity without being priced out of the neighborhoods we helped shape.”
“Atelier Artist isn’t just about making space — it’s about reimagining what community-centered creativity looks like,” added Mc Alexander Ciceron, creative director and partner. “Through ‘Lakay’, we’re amplifying stories that too often go unheard and creating a platform where artists from every background can truly belong.”
The unveiling takes place at Brooklyn Commons, Clock Tower Loft, 495 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, from 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
