Meet our resident artists

Kristy Butler (she/they) is originally from Buffalo, New York and brings her love of learning and self expression to her teaching practice. A creative person with a range of interests, Kristy is a former professional dancer and textile studio manager. Kristy has an AAS in Illustration from Fashion Institute of Technology and her art practice is focused on using traditional media in a fun and playful way. When teaching art to kids and adults, Kristy hopes to provide a nurturing, safe, and collaborative environment where experimentation is possible

Seda Anac (she/her) is a ceramist, educator and the founder of TheMudBklyn from the south of Turkey, living in Brooklyn, New York. After many years in the film industry, she found her passion in working with clay.

Seda teaches students of all ages to enjoy working with clay and create their own projects. She collaborates with local businesses and hosts workshops, and she is dedicated to bringing artists together at The Mud BKLYN to build a supportive creative community.

Her goal is to make art accessible to everyone and inspire others to express their creativity

Marcela E. Torres, Born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Torres received a BA in Sculpture Intermedia and a BFA in Art History from the University of Utah, They continued their studies with a MFA in Performance from School of the Art Institute Chicago.

Torres builds sensorial performances and dynamic objects that create portals into reflective zones where the contemporary timeline confronts historical ancestral moments. In these liminal spaces we can investigate Latinie/x experiences of colonization, crises and transition that manifested diaspora and distance from our indigenous culture. 

My research is scholarly, physical and community based as a triad that unlocks hidden memories within our bodies and brings it to the forefront of our collective mind.

Ling Gui is a graduate of the New York Academy of Art, where she specialized in sculpture. Her work centers around "Tùtu," a whimsical bunny character she created. Through her art, Ling explores both the functionality of her sculptures and the potential of clay as a medium, experimenting with diverse glazing techniques. Tùtu reflects her personal experiences and emotions, embodying a playful innocence that she hopes will resonate with viewers.

Hande Oynar is an art writer, breath work guide and a newly minted yoga teacher. As part of her creative process and wellbeing routine for the past decade, she's been doing breath work and facilitating workshops where she integrates breath work and art-therapeutic activities. Her goal is to make wellness practices accessible on all levels while prioritizing mental health and cultivating creativity.

Ali Domrongchai (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based food writer, Thai historian, and baker. Raised around her family’s Thai restaurant, she developed an early passion for food and its ability to build and sustain communities. This curiosity led her to earn a Bachelor’s in American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she focused on the impact of Thai cuisine in the American South and its role in shaping Thai American experience and identity.

Her writing and recipes can be found in Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, The Kitchn, Cook’s Country, Simply Recipes, and  EatingWell, and more. Ali is dedicated to exploring and sharing all aspects of Thai cuisine, particularly the lesser-known histories. 

Samhita Kamisetty is a visual artist based in Brooklyn, drawing inspiration from her roots in Portland, Oregon, and Bangalore, India. Her work explores materiality, memory, and function, blending narratives and shapes rooted in rituals and everyday life. Samhita has led workshops with brands and community spaces, including Ace Hotel New York, The North Face, Index Space, Hike Clerb, Common Things, and Flower Shop Collective. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from New York University.

(Photography credit: Rishika Nath). 

Barbara Vargas is an artist, designer, and the founder of Mali, a creative project that blends nature, art, and slow living. Her work explores personal transformation through handmade objects, and she’s passionate about reconnecting with creativity as a form of self-care. Originally from Venezuela and now based in New York, Barbara finds inspiration in natural landscapes and quiet moments of everyday beauty.