Mad Oyster Studios


Location: Somerville, Massachusetts

Mad Oyster Studios is a live/work artist space in Somerville, Massachusetts, housed in a refurbished industrial building that has supported artists for more than 25 years. Now stewarded by the Arts & Business Council, this space represents stable, affordable, and community-driven creative space in a rapidly changing city.

Property Area

21,530 SF

Building Area

31

Work-only studio spaces

40+

SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers) by A+J Art+Design

A working artist community

Mad Oyster Studios is home to more than 40 artists working across disciplines, including painting, sculpture, design, and mixed media. The building is an active creative ecosystem shaped by the artists who work there every day.

  • 31 private studios
  • 40+ working artists
  • A diverse range of creative practices
  • Longstanding participation in Somerville Open Studios

The rooftop garden, added to transform a previously unused blacktop roof, reflects the ethos of the space: practical, artist-centered improvements that enhance both function and community.

A space designed to support creativity

Originally built in 1900, the building has been adapted over time to meet the needs of working artists while maintaining its industrial character.

  • 21,530 square feet of studio space
  • Live/work configurations
  • Shared common areas
  • Rooftop garden and deck for gathering and reflection

A sustainable future for creative space

Mad Oyster Studios demonstrates how creative spaces can evolve to meet present-day needs while remaining rooted in long-term sustainability. 1

  • 180 solar panels generating 43.2 kW
  • Ongoing investment in building systems and infrastructure
  • Commitment to preserving affordability and access for artists


At a time when many artists are being priced out of urban areas, maintaining spaces like Mad Oyster is critical to the health of the creative economy.

In December 2025, the building was donated to the Arts & Business Council, marking an important moment in the organization’s work to preserve and expand access to creative space. This acquisition enables the organization to protect a long-standing artist community, ensure long-term stability for current tenants, explore new models for artist space ownership and stewardship, and extend its broader mission of supporting artists through space, capital, and capacity. Mad Oyster Studios stands as both a success story and a starting point, demonstrating what can happen when creative space is protected and what becomes possible when it is intentionally supported.