Who We Are

Who We Are

Organizational History

A 501(c)3 arts organization founded by Mandy Weil in 2006 with a vision to offer participants a creative outlet for healing.
Open Art Studio, NYC was inspired by and modeled after the Open Studio Project, a non-profit arts and social service organization located in Evanston, Illinois, founded in 1992 by a group of artists and therapists.
Since its incorporation, the Open Art Studio, NYC has facilitated programming for organizations such as shelters, public schools, churches, synagogues, wellness centers, hospitals and other non-profits serving those in need.

Board of Directors

Mandy Weil
President

Jamie Moser
Vice President
Chair, Annual Gala

Robin Sartini
Chair, Social

Paul Rich
Treasurer

Leslie Patent
Secretary

Diane Rosenstein
Chair, Evaluation

Seth Lax
Chair, Annual Fundraising

Roberto Ordonez
Chair Strategic Planning

Laura Shapiro
Grant Writer

Matthew Roose
Chair, Legal

Staff

Mandy Weil, MAAT, ATR, LCAT

Executive Director

Mandy, a native New Yorker, received her master’s degree in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During her graduate studies, she trained at the Open Studio Project. She has worked with at-risk youth, adolescents in the foster care system, children with mental health disorders, special needs children and their ‘typical’ siblings, caregivers of children living with a disability, disorder, or life-threatening illness, as well as the elderly.

Natalia Gómez, MAAT

Program Director

Natalia, a native Colombian, received her master’s degree in art therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Natalia met Mandy while training at the Open Studio Project. She has worked with children and adolescents in both private and public schools, and specializes in individual and group therapy with Latino /as of all ages and backgrounds.