Con Artist Moves to New 157 Suffolk Street Location

Those days occupying a dark dank cellar are gone. Con Artist is moving on up…to street level. No more steep stairwell, low ceiling, or claustrophobic workspace. As we reported exclusively back in August, the popular artist collective is relocating to the much larger storefront at 157 Suffolk Street. With the relocation nearly complete, one thing is for sure – you can take Con Artist out of the basement, but you can’t take the basement out of Con Artist.

That’s right, the workshop/co-op/gallery combo still maintains its underground edginess, but now has the legroom to grow. Earlier this week, we caught up with owner Brian Shevlin, who showed us the new digs. For the moment, it’s pretty much a controlled mess; a true workshop in every sense of the term. Member artists are still settling in, with various artwork – paintings, drawings, sculptures – scattered about. If all goes to plan, the 1,000 square-foot main level is to become modular in the coming months, with barn doors sliding on ceiling rails. The idea here being that Shevlin can precisely tailor the space depending upon specific needs, whether it’s a gallery function, boutique event, or just added workspace.

Toward the back of the storefront, members will have access to a photo processing area and modest computer workstation. There’s also a staircase to the basement which houses 1,000 square-feet of additional workspace.

If you’re interested in joining the co-op, Shevlin is looking for ten or more new members to add to the current roster of eighteen. For $200 per month, participating artists will have 24/7 access to the space and its equipment. Drop us a line if interested, and we’ll be sure to hook it up. In the meantime, Con Artist will itself open to the public sometime in early December.

Meanwhile, the former subterranean spot below 119 Ludlow Street is occupied as storage for a seasonal business owner. Once that sub-lease expires, probably three months, Con Artist will again return to store the bulkier design equipment.

Full gallery below (click thumbnail):