Jessica Helfand Transforms Providence Factory into Live-Work Studio
At 66 years old, Jessica Helfand, an artist, writer, and graphic designer, has transformed a 4,500-square-foot space within a 1907 factory in Providence's jewelry district into a live-work environment. This area, which thrived in costume jewelry production until the 1980s, has since been rebranded as the knowledge district, thanks to nearby research facilities. Previously residing in a Brutalist home near New Haven, Conn., with her late husband William Drenttel, Helfand enlisted architect Claire Weisz of WXY in 2021 to create a space that would grow alongside her. Originally a factory, the building later became a photography studio. Recently, Helfand embraced painting full-time and is currently working on a portrait of a child, symbolizing hope for the future.
Key facts
- Jessica Helfand is an artist, writer, and graphic designer.
- She moved to Providence's jewelry district, now the knowledge district.
- The factory was built in 1907 and later became a photography studio.
- Helfand commissioned architect Claire Weisz in 2021.
- Weisz is a co-founder of New York architecture firm WXY.
- The unit is 4,500 square feet in an eight-story building.
- Helfand previously lived in a Brutalist house near New Haven with her husband William Drenttel, who died in 2013.
- Helfand is working on a portrait of a child for a grandmother.
Entities
Artists
- Jessica Helfand
- Claire Weisz
Institutions
- WXY
Locations
- Providence
- Rhode Island
- New Haven
- Connecticut