Our Story

Artisans Asylum began on the industrial end of Windsor Street in Somerville, Massachusetts, near the Taza Chocolate factory and a handful of independent artist studios. Founder Gui Cavalcanti, a former Boston Dynamics engineer and graduate of the Olin College of Engineering, wanted a place where he could pursue his interest in robotics while sharing the tools—and the costs—required to build ambitious projects. The idea was simple: create a shared workshop where people could access equipment, learn from one another, and build things together.

When Artisans Asylum first opened its doors in May 2010, the response was immediate. “We expected something like 20 people to show up,” Cavalcanti later recalled. Instead, more than 100 people arrived, quickly filling the space and revealing just how strong the demand was for a collaborative makerspace in the Boston area.

As the community grew, so did the space. The second iteration of Artisans Asylum opened on Joy Street in Somerville, near Washington Street and the Brickbottom artist studios. This location introduced dedicated artist workspaces alongside shared fabrication areas, including 13 studios that filled almost immediately through word of mouth. The model evolved to support both makers and working artists, balancing studio rentals with shared craft space so the community could continue expanding.

The third location, also in Somerville, became the most ambitious version yet. With roughly 90 artisan workspaces, shared shops for welding, woodworking, and electronics, and dedicated classroom space, Artisans Asylum had become a full-scale fabrication community. The atmosphere reflected the spirit of experimentation and collaboration that defined the organization—makers gathered around projects, classes were constantly in motion, and the main floor included a few well-worn couches, a pair of speakers, and even a vintage arcade cabinet packed with classic games.

Today, Artisans Asylum has entered its next chapter in Allston–Brighton, Boston. Our current campus spans more than 52,000 square feet across two buildings and includes shared workshops, studios, classrooms, exhibition space, and community gathering areas. What began as a small shared workspace has grown into a vibrant fabrication wonderland where artists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists come together to learn, experiment, and build the things they are passionate about.