Inside the Studio: Mitchell Craig
- Art Dealer Street
- Aug 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 27
In the heart of New York City’s ever-pulsating creative scene, Mitchell Craig emerges as a painter whose work pulses with the same eclectic intensity as the streets that raised him. From his early days in Washington Heights to a thriving career in fashion design and now to his current practice as a full-time artist, Craig’s journey is one of fearless evolution, cultural immersion, and an unshakable commitment to creative expression.
His art—vivid, layered, and deeply narrative—translates the rhythms of city life into bold visual compositions that explore identity, memory, and time. At once personal and universal, his works bridge the tactile immediacy of fashion with the introspective power of fine art. As he explores new series like Decades, Mitchell invites us to not only see but feel history through color, composition, and context.
In this week’s Inside the Studio, we sit down with Mitchell Craig to dive into his story—one marked by curiosity, risk-taking, and a deep belief in the transformative power of art.
Read on to learn more in an exclusive interview with Mitchell Craig :
1. Growing up and living in Manhattan has clearly shaped your perspective. Could you share a specific memory or experience from your upbringing in Washington Heights that still influences your art today?
The diversity was top of the list. The neighbourhood that I grew up in included Irish, Greek, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Jewish—and the list goes on. The energy, the variety, the contrasts—it was a microcosm of the best of the city.
2. You transitioned from a successful career in fashion design to painting. What prompted this change, and how does your experience in fashion inform your current artistic practice?
I’ve always been an artist. I went to the High School of Music & Art as an art major. My love of fashion was a way that I could express my need to create and at the same time earn a living. I always knew that it was just a matter of time until I could get back to my roots as a full-time artist.
3. Your artworks often reflect the dynamic energy and visual richness of New York City. How do you choose which elements or scenes from the city make it onto your canvas?
Everything that the city has to offer inspires me. It’s a privilege to live in the capital of the world and to be surrounded by amazing people, sights, and experiences around every corner. That is the core of what fuels my work.
4. Many of your paintings feature vivid colors and bold compositions. Could you walk us through your creative process, from the initial inspiration to the final brushstroke?
The series that I am currently working on is called Decades. I’m interested in exploring the social, political, and cultural pressures and influences of a particular period and how they visually shape and represent a moment in time. Right now, I am working on the 1950s, but hope to soon follow with the sixties, seventies, and so on. Unlike my last series—Walden—which was a much more intuitive response to what was around me during the COVID lockdown, Decades begins with a lot of visual research. Working with a vast amount of reference materials, I gradually edit and edit and edit until I arrive at images and relationships of images that synthesize what visually represents that time period. The '50s was a natural starting point for me, as it is closely tied up with remembrances from my childhood. The process of studying and editing is the fuel for this creative process.
5. Do you find parallels between creating fashion and making art, particularly when it comes to themes like presentation, perception, or identity?
Both art and fashion are creative outlets. Fashion is a means of expressing my creativity as much as making art. They aren’t separate. Both come from an essential need to bring something new and exciting into the world. The new work—Decades—explores those ideas of identity and presentation in ways that are almost exactly the way that I think about fashion. The art and the fashion really feed one another.
6. Your pieces often challenge or reframe common visual narratives. Is there a particular theme or narrative you're currently exploring or keen to explore further in future works?
Yes—my current series Decades is a direct reflection of that desire to challenge visual narratives. I’m exploring how specific time periods—starting with the 1950s—can be understood through the lens of social, political, and cultural imagery. By layering symbols, styles, and color palettes tied to those decades, I’m attempting to reconstruct how we perceive identity and history. The goal is to move beyond nostalgia and instead spark dialogue about how those visuals still shape us today. As I continue through the ’60s, ’70s, and beyond, I’m excited to keep uncovering what these visual narratives say about who we are—and who we’ve been.
7. Gowanus, Brooklyn, where your studio is located, is known for its artistic community. How does working in this environment influence your art or your creative process?
It is the grit and lack of pretension in Gowanus that nourishes me and feeds my soul. It’s a space in the city that has no creative barriers. Anyone can be an artist. Art is everywhere you look, as long as your eyes are open. The mix of artists, makers, and services businesses is very fluid. Is the plumbing contractor any less an artist than the sculptor?
8. Lastly, given your journey from fashion to painting, what advice would you offer artists considering shifting their creative focus or exploring entirely new mediums?
Jump in and don’t look back. Don’t wait. Try to focus on anything that is innately yours—regardless of what others may think. The only opinion that matters is yours. Just remember to have fun along the way.
Mitchell Craig’s work is more than paint on canvas—it’s an ongoing conversation with time, place, and identity. Through fearless transitions, from the high-paced world of fashion to the reflective realm of fine art, he’s never stopped exploring what it means to create, adapt, and inspire. His bold use of color and memory serves as a bridge between eras, reminding us that art can be both personal and communal, both deeply rooted and ever-evolving.
As Mitchell continues his journey through the Decades, we’re reminded that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. In his world, every moment is an opportunity to reimagine, to respond, and to build something entirely new.
You can learn more about Mitchell Craig and his work via these links: Website: @Mitchell Craig Instagram: @mitchellcraigstudio Saatchi Art: @Mitchell Craig
