About us
Photo by Alice Plati
We live for creativity.
Working with our hands to create something out of nothing is grounding. Disarming. Nostalgic. It eases connection with our ourselves and others. We were built on a foundation of creativity, learning, and expression – we think it is an amazing way to get out of our heads and approach the world with a bit of childlike open-mindedness. Gather around the table with new friends and we think you’ll surprise yourself!
It all started with a small NYC apartment and a desire to connect through creativity.
Angela (our founder!) started hosting claydates, playdates with clay, from her apartment. She hosted people around her own dinner table and in her living room.
Drawing Room is your home away from home… a second living room in the city. A space to spark creativity, joy, and new connections.
There’s a magic that happens when you engage with intention – connection, learning, joy. This brings our city to life; we think that’s worth investing in.
Did you know the drawing room used to be an alternative name for a living room?
A drawing room used to be a space for people to sit and relax, or entertain. For example after dinner, people would withdraw to their drawing room from the dining room, to feel more comfortable and relaxed after a big meal. We also draw here – how perfect!
Meet the team
Angela Lee (she/her)
Founder and Host at Drawing Room
Angela loves to create in virtually any medium. She is passionate about creating community, inclusive third spaces, and beautiful things.
Join the team
We are hiring for team members who believe in our mission and want to help us grow to the next stage!
Instructor Team
Meiying Thai (she/her)
Head of Mixed Media & Workshop Programming, and Instructor at Drawing Room
Meiying is a multidisciplinary artist. She loves helping people nurture their creativity, and approaches art making with a sense of
play and joy.
Aubrey Aiese (EYE-AYE-SEE) (she/her)
Head of Ceramics & Community Programming, Host and Instructor at Drawing Room
Aubrey is an illustrator and ceramic artist from Brooklyn, New York. She makes handmade, one of a kind ceramics with playfully illustrated faces
and feelings.
Rachel Herron (she/her)
Writing Instructor at Drawing Room
Rachel is a playwright and storyteller based in Brooklyn. She loves inspiring others to use words to express their deepest vulnerabilities and form meaningful connections.
Adriana Gramly (she/her)
Fibers and Drawing Instructor
Creative Growth Strategist
Adriana is an artist working across disciplines while taking inspiration from human connection, folklore, and those little intrusive thoughts, to imagine worlds built on metaphor. She graduated with a BFA double major in Film/Animation/Video and Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Ray Hwang (he/him/his)
Instructor
Ray is an artist and curator from LA. He has a BFA from the School of Visual Arts, NY and is interested in how creativity plays a part in community building. He also has interests in books, zines, artistic experimentation, and is a huge basketball nerd.
Aaisha Bhuiyan (she/her)
Instructor of Pen to Paper workshops at Drawing Room
Aaisha is a published writer and community organizer. She loves to bring people together and engage in meaningful reflection. Her writing practice is guided by meditative thought exercises and playful prompts.
Our Open Hours & Community Events Team
Andrea Resendiz (she/they)
Open Hours Operations, Studio Manager, and Host at Drawing Room
Andrea is a multi talented Mexican artist whose creative freedom ranges from sculpting to tattooing. Andrea is passionate about creating more accessible art spaces, and prioritizes highlighting her environment and all folk that live in it.
Zoe Wallace (she/her)
Media Associate, Newsletter Author,
and Host at Drawing Room
Zoe is a writer and poet obsessed with the art of storytelling. She believes everyone has a story to tell and aims to empower others to express their own through whatever modality calls to them. She loves writing silly haikus and you might just find one hiding around
Drawing Room!
Khamkay (come-kai) Inthavong (she/her)
Media Associate, and Host at Drawing Room
Khamkay has previously worked in non-profit art spaces and is passionate about revitalizing communities through education and creative engagement. In her free time, she enjoys sketching and making collages.
Kavi Bose (they/them)
Open Hours Host
Kavi is a multidisciplinary artist and writer based in Queens with a deep love for fostering artistic community. A Fulbright Scholar and former marketing professional originally from the Midwest, Kavi’s primary artistic focus is in textile art, especially crochet and hand embroidery! They also love painting, sewing, illustration, photography, and are currently writing their first novel.
Katherine Lee (she/her)
Open Hour Host and Community Organizer
Kat loves fiber arts and illustration! Previously she was a prosthetics and orthotics clinician working with veteran patients. Now, she’s pursuing a creative career full-time and has a business focused on embroidered, punch needle, and illustrative projects. She’s also a big foodie!
Kat Quach (she/her)
Open Hours Host
Kat is a psychology student and yoga teacher who is passionate about all things mental health. She encourages self-discovery and self-expression through creativity, movement and meaningful reflection. As an Aussie expat, she knows first-hand the impact a good community can make on your life!
Erin O’Connor (she/her)
Community Event Host
Erin is an actor, teaching artist, writer, and dog-enthusiast based in Manhattan. She is passionate about fostering community through creative connection and has hosted many community gatherings throughout her career. She is known for asking well-meaning, very silly, and sometimes intrusive, questions.
Kimmie David (she/they)
Open Hour Host
Kimmie is a queer Filipino-American artist and writer from New York City with a background in social movement spaces, neurodivergent business systems, nontraditional relationships, and general troublemaking. 💖 #BillsMafia ✨
Our Media & Operations Team
Gina Darnaud
Special Projects and Operations at Drawing Room
Gina loves a good spreadsheet to make sure the details don’t get lost in the sauce. She also believes in the power of community care so cultivating spaces for community + creativity
is her jam!
James Fitzgerald (he/him)
Content Lead
James has spent the last decade trying to make things on the internet look really good! He's helped local community orgs, musicians, media companies, video games, films, and hundreds of small businesses look & sound their best.
Oladoyin Ogunsola (she/her)
Social Media Intern
Oladoyin is a multimedia creative specializing in digital media, film, theatre, and content production. She thrives on pushing creative boundaries, blending diverse art forms in unexpected ways, and amplifying underrepresented voices. With experience both in front of and behind the camera, she is dedicated to crafting work that challenges conventions, inspires fresh perspectives, and redefines storytelling.
FAQs
Have a question? Chances are we’ve answered it!
Check out our FAQs to learn more.
Great experience design extends beyond any single medium – music, ambiance, food, drinks, conversation, and purpose.
Gatherings at Drawing Room embody countless elements of thoughtful curation for your enjoyment. Stretch your creative brain, relax, connect with people, and share an experience – the vibes, the laughs, the present moment – to make new memories.
Photos of you on the Drawing Room camera
Come by to take a photo on our no-screen camera and see it here!
Drawing Room in the News
New York Live with Lauren Scala
Our founder Angela chats with Lauren Scala about Drawing Room, why we exist, and what we do here.
Please email info@nycdrawingroom.com with any questions or inquiries.