Behind Grand Street’s vibrant storefronts, many individuals and groups run their own creative businesses. Without a typical storefront, these Grand Street businesses go unnoticed by foot traffic along the street. We want to take this opportunity to highlight a few artists who live and work on Grand Street.
Amberink
Amber Nicole
Amber Nicole is the founder of Amber Ink Creative Studio, a small photography business located on the upper floors of the behemoth of a building that is 750 Grand Street. Amber also works alongside the head photographer of the space, Timothy Ireland of Ireland Studios, while producing her own creative endeavors.
A long-time New Yorker, and seasoned photographer, Amber is eager to draw clients from the surrounding Williamsburg neighborhood. Her passions lie in set building and building creative environments and experiences for her clients. More recently, she has started to experiment with mobile sets that she has brought as a pop-up to McCarren Park and Central Park. Amber’s unique approach to the photographic experience goes far beyond typical head shots or posed fashion sets. With a wide range of clients who span distances geographically, the new goal is to attract more local people, and create beautiful images and experiences for fellow Brooklynites.
Check out Amber’s work here, and follow her on instagram @_amberink_.
Owley
Owley is a group of local filmmakers and documentarians based on Grand Street, who have collaborated with the BID on multiple projects. Their most recent video with the BID was award winning, “Alor a Azucenas el Perfume del Bario”, documenting the creation of our most prominent mural, bringing a little piece of Puerto Rican culture to Grand Street. Other projects include Chris Jehly X 98 Bushwick: “Internal View”(2019) and Grand Street - All Flavors of Life (2019). These videos are respectively about artist Chris Jehly’s mural work and an overview of businesses and culture on Grand Street. This past winter, Owley created a beautiful montage of the big New York City snowstorm on Grand Street and in the East Williamsburg neighborhood. You can check it out here.
Owley’s community-oriented work brings a beautiful expression of life on Grand Street as well as individuals and communities beyond. We’re so excited to see their future productions! Be sure to follow them on instagram at @ow.ley to see their extensive body of work.
Francesca Romana Caputo
Francesca is a resident of Grand Street, and also one of our Board Members! An Italian native, Francesca moved to the US and is an interior architect specializing in restaurant design, retail and commercial projects. She has been helping the hospitality and lifestyle industry dream big since 2004, with designs that seamlessly weave together a client’s vision, the genius loci (spirit of the place), and the brand’s culture into something entirely new.
Interior design of Black City Cafe in Baku, Azerbaijan. Sourced from francescaromanaraputo.com
She has been living in Brooklyn for over 9 years and working in Hospitality Design for over 15 years. As a creative, her projects span internationally, and her thoughtful design allows her clients visions to go above and beyond. Be sure to check out her design work on her website! On the side, she also creates beautiful custom cards that she markets on the Instagram account, @nanicards.
As a member of the Grand Street community, Francesca is just as thoughtful and involved. She is always communicating with us about ways that we can achieve our mission and make our neighborhood the best that it can be.
Timothy Ireland
Sourced from Irelandstudios.com
Another creative in 750 Grand Street, Timothy Ireland is the founder and CEO or Ireland Studios a creative agency specializing in content strategy and creation through photography and video. His stunning product and commercial photography is featured in a variety of magazines, websites, and other media platforms. With major clients such as TRESEMME, Clinique, Samsung, Mercedes his knack for brand recognition and creative marketing is apparent.
Timothy also runs Kid Focus Photography, a children and family focused photography studio. Check out Timothy’s work here, and follow him on instagram at
Wade and Leta
Wade Jefree and Leta Sobierajski are a dynamic duo of artists residing on Grand Street. As a pair, they create bright and eclectic artwork and provide creative services for an impressive list of clients. Known for their abstract, colorful installations, branding schemes, and photography, their “quirky” designs spread life and creativity throughout their art direction.
Wade is a designer and art director is from Australia; and Leta, a graphic designer from Upstate New York. Together, the couple spans mediums to collaboratively create their art, and have fun while doing it! Their diverse portfolio of projects and services spans from major branding campaigns, to a series of self portraits or installations such as their contribution to the Seaport District Sea Sculptures at the South Street Seaport. Additionally, they’ve spoken and presented their work at a variety conferences around the world and continue to spread life and color through their work every day.
Be sure to check out their amazing work on their website and follow them on instagram @wadeandleta @wadejeffree @letasobierajski
Wade and Leta with their Seaport District Sea Sculptures Installation. Sourced from wadeandleta.com