Atelier Jolie logo
Atelier Jolie house old

Photos courtesy of The New York Times

Atelier Jolie house present

Photos courtesy of NYC Municipal Archives

A Crossroads of New York City’s History
and Creative Legacy

57 Great Jones Street is integral to the history of New York City and of the arts, from its origins as a stable, to its transformation into a gangster’s hideout and saloon, to its tenure as an art studio for the legendary artists Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

In 2023, Angelina Jolie and her daughter Zahara visited the space and felt an immediate connection. Inspired by its legacy, they conceived Atelier Jolie and reimagined the space as a unique cultural arts center, with a throughline focused on community.

TIMELINE

1800s

Built between 1860 and 1868 for landowner Benjamin Bailey, it first served as a stable before becoming the home of Philip Hone, a former mayor of New York City. It was altered in 1882 for John A. Dunn who operated a furniture store and auction house at 57 and 59 Great Jones Street until around 1901.

1900s

By 1905, the building was purchased by Paolo Antonio Vaccarelli, a.k.a. Paul Kelly, leader of the notorious Five Points Gang– and "perhaps the most successful and the most influential gangster in New York history” (The New York Times, 1912.) Kelly transformed the space into “Little Naples,” a saloon and, ironically, a haven for the city’s political elite. The Five Points Gang, which included Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, used the basement as a headquarters.

1970

In 1970, Andy Warhol purchased the building for use by his own Factory Films Inc. In the ’80s, Warhol rented the upstairs loft to Jean-Michel Basquiat, who lived and worked there until his death in 1988. The building then became a site of homage for street artists to celebrate his legacy – a vivid reflection of the Bowery’s enduring artistic spirit even as gentrification took hold in the ’90s.

Today

Atelier Jolie opened in December 2023, threading its storied past with a new creative future. In 2024, the space was renovated and launched as a forum for the arts, encompassing classes, workshops, residencies and exhibitions.