With a bit of ingenuity at his new workspace, Ash Armenta [MFA ’22] has managed to squeeze in a metal desk, a wooden storage loft, a large collection of printmaking equipment and the long strips of fabric he plans to fashion into a 60-foot hanging art installation.

A printmaker and tattoo artist, Armenta is one of 30 artists now working out of leased studios at the Roundhouse Building, 1741 Commercial Ave. The studios — housed on the second floor of a former railway building next to Tandem Press — are a collaboration between Apex Property Management and the Arts + Literature Laboratory.

The Roundhouse Studios aim to provide artists an affordable space in a city that, despite its vibrant arts scene, frustrates them with shortages of cheap studio space. For Jolynne Roorda, co-director of the Arts + Literature Laboratory, the studios are part of the organization’s mission to promote Madison’s art community.

“Part of valuing that artistic labor is making sure there are places where artists can actually make their work right and show that they are professionals. A lot of times, I think people are used to experiencing art for free or asking artists to volunteer their work,” Roorda said. “It’s very important that people recognize that they need to be compensated fairly as professionals, and part of that is seeing them work in professional spaces.”

The studios will hold a grand opening to the public May 18 from noon to 5 p.m. Artists using the studios may offer public painting or printmaking classes, hold lessons for beginners, or sell pieces from their own studio.

Armenta came to Madison from Santa Cruz, California, in 2019 to pursue a master of fine art degree in printmaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Finding studio space has been a challenge from the beginning of his art career, he said.

While he understood the challenge in California of finding an affordable studio in a prime location, Armenta was surprised to find few options in a city of Madison’s size.

“It feels unique in Madison, because it is a big town, and why don’t we have the buildings for it?” Armenta said.