Smack Mellon is a nonprofit arts organization located in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Smack Mellon’s mission is to nurture and support emerging, under-recognized mid-career, and women artists in the creation and exhibition of new work by providing exhibition opportunities, studio workspace, and access to equipment and technical assistance for the realization of ambitious projects. Smack Mellon sees itself as a vehicle whereby under-represented artists can create, explore, and exhibit their creative ideas outside the concerns of the commercial art world, offering many artists the exposure and recognition they deserve.

Smack Mellon was founded in 1995 by Andrea Reynosa and Kevin Vertrees with a wealth of creative and technical support from David Baskin, James Hong, and Tommy Bordonaro. Kathleen Gilrain joined Smack Mellon as Executive Director & Chief Curator in 2000. From 1996–2004, Smack Mellon evolved to present exhibitions in dynamic spaces throughout the DUMBO neighborhood, thanks to generous space donations from the Walentas Family and Two Trees Management. In 2005, Smack Mellon moved into its current home at 92 Plymouth Street, a converted 1880s boiler house that originally produced steam, providing heat and power to other facilities in the neighborhood. Today, Smack Mellon is a unique cultural space that provides free admission to museum-scale contemporary art exhibitions, studio workspaces, and educational and public programs.

Jerome Foundation supports Smack Mellon’s Artist Studio Program. Launched in 2000 in response to the crisis of available affordable space for artists in New York City, the Artist Studio Program supports artists from historically underrepresented racial, cultural, or economic backgrounds, prioritizing those who identify as women, transgender, or non-binary. Overseen by Programs & Events Manager Maryam Chadury, the program provides six early career New York City-based artists working in all visual arts media a stipend; a free private studio space accessible 24/7; access to three shared spaces: a media lab, a fabrication shop and a kitchen; equipment for artists to use in their studios, as well as for presenting work to the public and during private studio visits; and technical support to aid artists in the creation of new work. Throughout the year-long residency, Smack Mellon coordinates 20–30 studio visits with NYC arts professionals; and two public Open Studio events are held each year, offering artists the chance to expand their creative communities.