Third places are
increasingly rare,
but greatly needed
Photo by Alice Plati
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!
Why is creativity the foundation at Drawing Room?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 their best online and in the real world!
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.
Oladoyin Ogunsola (she/her)
Social Media Intern
She’s writing her bio, and it’ll be here one day soon! 😊
Katherine Lee (she/her)
Open Hour Host and Community Organizer
Hi, I'm Kat and I'm a new open hour host with a love for fiber arts and illustration! I was previously a prosthetics and orthotics clinician working with veteran patients, which allowed me to craft artificial limbs and custom braces in a medical space. In 2024 I decided to pursue a creative career full-time and have started a business centering around embroidered, punch needle, and illustrative projects. I'm a big foodie with a soft spot for Korean food, and have a pet tortoise named Herbert.
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!
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 ✨
HOURS & LOCATION &
HOURS & LOCATION &
Our location is in Chelsea, Manhattan.
Our address is
247 W 30th St
(lobby code 1223),
Unit #9R,
New York, NY 10001.
There is elevator access to the 9th floor.
Please refer to our Google Maps page for the most accurate opening and closing hours, as they may vary depending on holidays or private rentals. We also recommend you follow us and refer to our Instagram for any time-sensitive announcements.
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.