Barbara Anderson

Over 11% of all retail space (nearly 16K storefronts) in NYC sit empty. While many see this as a necessary part of the city’s small business fabric, Barbara sees opportunity. Through her organization Art on the Ave NYC, she transforms unused spaces into pop-up galleries and studios featuring local, underrepresented artists. Each activation is temporary by design, showcasing a new way to use our blocks, neighborhoods, and streets for community and opportunity. Her process is quick, scrappy, and relies on community collaboration.

Working closely with majority small landlords, Barbara sparks a creative home inside spaces that would otherwise sit idle in low-lift ways. Since launching in 2020, 75% of the 93 spaces she’s activated are again in active use, and artists working from these spaces have sold close to $400,000 in sales. Art on the Ave NYC provides a platform that both helps artists gain traction and visibility, and inspire New Yorkers in unexpected moments in everyday life. Now, she’s ready to grow the vision and bring art to neighborhoods across NYC.