Five Artists on the Luxuries They Keep and Sacrifices They Make to Live in New York
CULTURED's 'The Rent Edit' report delves into the financial challenges facing artists in New York in 2026, highlighting a decline in the creative sector for the first time in decades, which has led many to relocate to New Jersey. According to the Center for Urban Future, over 100,000 artists still reside in the city. Diya Vij, the cultural affairs commissioner appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is determined to address the affordability crisis. Five artists discuss their personal sacrifices: Tony Oursler, 69, loses dependable shipping; American Artist, 36, no longer has studio assistants; Melissa Joseph, 45, gives up space and heating; Kenneth Tam can’t live full-time in NYC; Elia Alba, 65, stops using Uber. Upcoming exhibitions include Joseph's 'Casserole Culture' in September and Tam's 'Guild and Greyshkul' on Sept. 16.
Key facts
- CULTURED's 'The Rent Edit' package explores the financial reality of being an artist in New York in 2026.
- New York City's creative sector has shrunk for the first time in decades, with artists fleeing to places like New Jersey.
- Over 100,000 artists continue to live and work in New York, according to a report from the Center for Urban Future.
- Diya Vij, commissioner of cultural affairs under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has prioritized addressing the affordability crisis for arts and culture.
- Tony Oursler, 69, video and installation artist, represented by Lehmann Maupin and Lisson, holds onto experimental projects and A.I. optimism, but gave up reliable FedEx, Amazon, USPS, and Tyrian purple pigment.
- American Artist, 36, sculpture and video artist from Altadena, California, represented by Commonwealth and Council, holds onto renting a studio and Telfar, but gave up two bedrooms, studio assistants, and Instagram ads.
- Melissa Joseph, 45, felted wool artist from Saint Marys, Pennsylvania, represented by Charles Moffett Gallery, holds onto oat lattes and small artworks, but gave up space, heat, and paying quarterly taxes.
- Kenneth Tam, from Queens, New York, holds onto a good mattress and a car, but gave up living in New York full-time, as he teaches in Houston.
- Elia Alba, 65, sculptor, photographer, and video artist from Brooklyn, holds onto fabrics, books, and trips to Miami, but gave up Uber rides, streaming subscriptions, and daily Starbucks runs.
- Melissa Joseph's upcoming show 'Casserole Culture' at Charles Moffett opens in September.
- Kenneth Tam's upcoming show 'Guild and Greyshkul' at Cooper Union opens Sept. 16.
Entities
Artists
- Tony Oursler
- American Artist
- Melissa Joseph
- Kenneth Tam
- Elia Alba
- Diya Vij
- Zohran Mamdani
- Josh Kline
- David L Johnson
- Jamian Juliano-Villani
- Doron Langberg
- Martha Rosler
- Luba Drozd
- Tomashi Jackson
- Mickalene Thomas
- Kymberly Pinder
- Aruna D'Souza
- Esther Robinson
- Matt Rubendall
- Jonathan Travis
- Drew Sawyer
- Roula Khalaf
Institutions
- CULTURED
- Center for Urban Future
- Lehmann Maupin
- Lisson
- Commonwealth and Council
- Charles Moffett Gallery
- Cooper Union
- New York Film Festival
- WFMU
- WQXR
- Mudd Club
- Windows on the World
- Briciola Harlem
- Sockeye Salmon Share
- Shizen
- Saffron
- Telfar
- HBO Max
- Hulu
- Ssense
- Instacart
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats
- Grubhub
- CVS
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
- Whitney Museum
- O'Flaherty's
- Gagosian
- Massimo De Carlo
- Center for an Urban Future
- Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program
- Two Trees Cultural Space Subsidy Program
- New York City Economic Development Corporation
- ArtBuilt
- Yale School of Art
- Sotheby's
- October
- FT Weekend
- Bluesky
- X
Locations
- New York
- Manhattan
- Queens
- Brooklyn
- Altadena
- California
- Saint Marys
- Pennsylvania
- Houston
- Miami
- New Jersey
- New York City
- United States
- Lower East Side
- Chelsea
- Bushwick
- Dumbo
- Tribeca
- West Chelsea
- New Haven
- Nashville
- Atlanta
- Santa Fe
- Honolulu
- Maine