A custom sneaker artist-turned-entrepreneur, Nandita Maan nurtures creativity and community at The Boston Artistry.
By JENNIFER H. MCINERNEY
Photography by KATE ROGAN
On a recent afternoon, a group of 10 young girls gathered at The Boston Artistry in Hingham to take part in a hands-on workshop. Participants sat around a long table arranged with miniature easels, wooden cutouts in the shape of disco balls, paintbrushes, palettes, and an assortment of paints in every shade imaginable—all of the materials needed to create personalized signs for their bedrooms or school lockers. With guidance from business owner Nandita Maan and her assistant, Carter, the girls swept their paintbrushes across the center of their signs to write their names in a cursive script. And, for the final flourish: glitter.
“It’s an art space where kids are free to express themselves however they want to,” says Maan, who started out hosting pop-up art workshops before taking a leap of faith to open her brick and mortar location on Water Street.
Since opening its doors in November of 2023, The Boston Artistry has become the go-to spot for kids, tweens, and adults seeking to express their creative talents in new and exciting ways. She now hosts everything from kids’ birthday parties to bridesmaids’ outings and corporate events. “Art is very personal. We provide the inspiration, materials, and space for individuals to imagine, create, and play.”
On this particular day, one of the girls gravitated toward a rack of costumes strategically situated near the craft table and asked politely if she could dress up. Maan enthusiastically agreed and encouraged everyone to feel free to follow suit. She also invited them to make song requests, letting them take over the studio’s soundtrack for the afternoon.
"It’s a social place for kids. They get to be with their friends, learning about each other and having fun in a relaxed environment, not sitting with their phones in their hands and their eyes on the screens."
It’s a social place for kids,” says Maan. “They get to be with their friends, learning about each other and having fun in a relaxed environment, not sitting with their phones in their hands and their eyes on the screens.”
Whenever a young artist asks, “Nandita, can we do this?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes, of course we can!” The options aren’t even limited by the participants’ imaginations, as The Boston Artistry encourages and facilitates discovery, exploration, and experimentation.
The studio’s Wearable Art Workshops offer opportunities for kids to create unique pieces of art, including T-shirts, totes, hats and jewelry. Functional projects, such as flowerpots and coasters, are also available. Maan’s studio is stocked with safe, hypoallergenic paint supplies and water-based glue, as well as creative tools of the trade for airbrushing, screen-printing, sewing, linocuts, glowin-the-dark effects, and more.
Other themed workshops include Toy Design, which focuses on designing and prototyping toys using clay, fabric, or 3-D printing
materials; Comics, Cartooning, and Manga Art, which involves
exploring different drawing styles, sketching dynamic characters,
and developing comic strips; and Mixed Media Art Forms, offering
the option to engage in a mixed media art project, such as painting, sculpture, or collage.
One of the studio’s most popular workshops, The Boston Artistry
Sneaker Bar, draws from Maan’s own professional experience. She
has a master’s degree in footwear design from the University of
Northampton, England, and more than a decade of experience
working in the footwear and fashion industry for brands like Keds, Nike, and Reebok.
Maan has a passion for customizing footwear with bright colors, logos and designs. Her workshop participants bring their own plain white sneakers to customize with colorful wearable paints to create vivid and vibrant design and one-of-a-kind styles.
"During this three-hour workshop, kids get to be a part of the design process,” Maan explains. “We’re encouraging sustainability by having them bring their own sneakers and helping them build confidence by expressing their own style.”
Private parties and events can be tailored to specific interests and themes. Flexible drop-in sessions (after school and weekends) and discounted class packs are available. And the workshops aren’t just for kids—adults of all ages can try their hands at a variety of artistic activities in this small-group setting.
Many of the projects that have been created at The Boston Artistry are highlighted on the Artist Spotlight Wall, inside the studio. Maan has captured dozens of masterpieces and their makers in a series of snapshots showcased for posterity and inspiration.