10/15/2026
Cassandra Mayela is a Venezuelan-born artist based in New York City. It’s been inspiring to watch her practice evolve over the years into something so expansive, moving between installations, weaving, drawing, and community-engaged projects. Her work explores memory, belonging, meditation, and labor as forms of self-healing, often blurring the lines between art-making and everyday life. More recently, cooking has become another extension of her practice, bringing people together around the table while raising funds for disaster relief and families in need. There’s a beautiful thread of care and connection running through everything she does, whether she’s making something with her hands or gathering people around a meal or workshop.
Photographer CHRIS BERNABEO and I spent an afternoon with Cass in her new live/work studio. Although she’s only recently moved in, the space already feels lived-in, full of warmth, creativity, and an invitation to slow down. An eclectic collection of artworks by friends fills the space, making it feel distinctly hers. There’s even a hammock in the living room. What more could you want? Read our conversation in the journal.
Photography by CHRIS BERNABEO
