WORCESTER ― When Ryan Gardell, an artist known for his murals in the city and artwork on local businesses, opened a workshop in Tatnuck Square in 2021, his goal was to create a venue where other artists could practice for free, regardless of skill level.
In July, three years after opening, Gardell moved the Artifakt Studios to Providence, saying he had been “priced out of the neighborhood.” He opened a paint shop at 140 Millbury St.
On Saturday, Gardell closed the paint shop, while raising concerns about the future of artists in the city and the sustainability of businesses run by artists…