Will feature her work at the upcoming Harboring Creativity at the ICA Watershed on November 7 and 8.
Kristen Audette is an East Boston-based watercolor artist celebrating the character, history, and nostalgia of East Boston’s neighborhoods, particularly Jeffries Point where her and her partner (who is also an artist), Richie live. From beloved neighborhood restaurants like Santarpio’s Pizza, Carmella’s, The Quiet Few, Rinos, Angela’s Café, Kelley’s Pub, to small businesses like Central Park Lanes and recognizable landmarks like The Shipyard’s Chowder King Sign, Piers Park, LoPresti Park, and The Harbor Walk, her work captures the places that hold special meaning for the people who call East Boston home.
Kristen’s artistic journey was inspired by her love of nature, travel, and finding beauty in unexpected places. Through her work in environmental science and wildfire recovery, she witnessed the resilience of nature firsthand, particularly the way new life can emerge after destruction. Those experiences helped shape her appreciation for the small details and everyday beauty that often go unnoticed.
Living in East Boston has deepened Kristen’s appreciation for the strong sense of community, cultural diversity, and neighborhood pride that make the area unique. As Boston continues to grow and change, she recognizes how meaningful familiar places can be, especially to longtime residents who have watched their neighborhoods evolve. Through her paintings, she hopes to preserve a small piece of that history while celebrating the local businesses, gathering places, and everyday scenes that bring people together.
For Kristen, painting is about more than recreating a familiar scene. It’s about preserving memories, celebrating neighborhood identity, and creating a sense of connection between people and the places they love. She hopes her artwork encourages others to slow down, appreciate their surroundings, and recognize the beauty in the communities they experience every day.
You can find the entire East Boston art print collection for sale online https://www.sunsetstudiosboston.com/east-boston with select East Boston prints can be found for sale in person at The Well Coffeehouse, Portside Market, and Dirty Water Dough) and Studio #321 at 46 Waltham Street Studio in South Boston. Kristen also offers watercolor commissions and can be contacted through kristen@sunsetstudiosboston.com.
What began as a creative passion has grown into a small business as her and her partner Richie are working on opening a studio in South End’s SoWa arts district (46 Waltham St. Studio #321) Both share a passion for art, music, and bringing people together through creativity. The idea for their business grew from a playful realization that they shared the same area code while working the wildfires in California, a small coincidence that eventually became part of their creative identity. Together, they’ve built Sunset Studios Boston as a space to bring their artistic interests together, support local creativity, and create opportunities for people to connect through art. Richie offers public and private paint events and experiences and can be contacted through richie@sunsetstudiosboston.com
Kristen and Richie will be participating in the upcoming Harboring Creativity exhibition and art sale at the ICA Watershed in East Boston on November 7–8, 2026. The event offers an opportunity to celebrate the neighborhood’s vibrant artistic community, connect with fellow local artists, and share her work with the community that continues to inspire her.
