Manhattan Avenue
Sep 17, 2026
Creating a Cultural Home for NYC Creatives
Ola Studio began in a small church group in New York in 2023, where Simi and Dawn connected over conversations about art, community and purpose. What started as casual brainstorming soon became the foundation for a creative space built around their shared vision. Their idea was to create more than a studio - a place where creativity, collaboration and worship could coexist, and where creatives could feel a true sense of belonging. Today, Ola Studio is a reflection of that vision: intentional, intimate and designed to give creativity room to flourish. We sat down with Simi and Dawn to expand on their ourney, the vision behind Ola Studio, and what it means to build a space for New York’s creative community.
1. What inspired you to create Ola Studio, and what did you feel was missing that you wanted to bring into the creative landscape of New York?
Ola Studio was created to be a home away from home for creatives in New York City; a place to gather, feel inspired, and create. We wanted it to feel like an oasis, somewhere you could leave whatever you were carrying at the door and enter a space where you felt an immediate sense of belonging. At its core, Ola was born from our desire to nourish New York’s creative ecosystem, particularly for the African and Black diaspora. As creatives ourselves, we wanted to build the kind of space we were craving: one rooted in culture, community, beauty, and possibility. In many ways, Ola is our love letter to New York. It’s a reflection of the love we have for this city and for the creative community that makes it what it is.
2. What does the name “Ola” represent, and how does that idea connect to the identity of the space?
The name Ola comes from our mothers, who coincidentally share the same name. In Yoruba, “ola” means wealth, which felt especially meaningful to us. We think of wealth as the creativity, knowledge, culture, resources, and connections that exist within our community. Our hope is to contribute to that collective wealth and create a space where it can be shared, nurtured, and multiplied. That spirit is at the heart of Ola.
3. When you imagined Ola Studio before it existed, what did you want people to feel when they walked through the doors?
We wanted people to feel two things immediately: inspired and at home. There’s a real sense of belonging that we wanted the space to evoke. Ola is unapologetically Black and African, and it was important for that identity to be felt loudly. At the same time, we wanted the space to be so thoughtfully and beautifully curated that anyone who walks through the doors feels inspired to create, connect, and spend time here. It’s culturally specific in its point of view, but expansive in the way it welcomes people in.
Full Story in the Print Issue
