WHAT IS OUR STORY?
history
curious.
WHAT IS OUR STORY?
The Artist Kitchen was created out of a love for the arts, wanting a place to engage creatively with the community and a passion for cooking. It’s grown over the years from a craftsman home in Asheville, North Carolina, to a boutique mocktail lounge in beautiful downtown Marshall, North Carolina, expanding into the Yucca Valley and most recently with an international presence in Costa Rice.
Founder, Carlos Vera felt the need to create a place where everyone is welcome to gather, mingle, and express themselves. The artist kitchen (in all of it's incarnations) offers live music and live art, in a unique environment that stimulates the senses.
In 2008, Carlos purchased a fixer upper craftsman house in Asheville, NC. This provided him with a home base for his career as a traveling live painter and production artist. Shortly after establishing himself in Asheville, Carlos became a care provider. His father moved in with him from California and his mother moved from New Orleans to a home close by. Carlos’s mother was diagnosed with cancer soon after arriving and Carlos’s career as a traveling artist came to a halt, his gigs suffered, and his performance hindered. Carlos, motivated by this misfortune, began to express his creativity in and around his home, giving it a working title of “The Artist Kitchen.” This home became a happening for the community, many artists gathered, and collaborations were had.
The press and word of mouth eventually led to sale of The Artist Kitchen Asheville. In 2018, Carlos invested the proceeds from his home to further other creative rehabs including: TAK West Asheville, TAK Yucca Valley AirBnB and The Artist Kitchen Lounge Cocktail Lounge Marshall, NC.
For more information on Carlos Vera's projects go here.
