Francine’s: A New Art Studio and shop in Chicago

You’ve probably seen ads for ceramics or painting classes around Chicago. But what about puppet-making? or building tiny furniture? Francine’s, a lesbian-owned art studio and shop, offers all of this and more.

Named after their dog Francine, owners Rachel Dohner and Olivia Comai want to build a creative and welcoming space for artists and art lovers in the community. Their workshops and items for sale show off both of their individual passions, as well as a love for colorful art.

The pair met at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago-Dohner graduated in 2022 and Comai in 2021. They have been dating for four and a half years.

Dohner and Comai have lived in Edgewater for three years, and Dohner grew up in Rogers Park. Both say they love the neighborhood and were looking for a studio space separate from their apartment.

“After graduating, we did a lot of small art fairs and craft fairs,” comai said. “When we saw this open space, we thought, ‘We could use the back for a studio, or we could both teach different art classes.'”

Francine’s opened in April 2025. Dohner said they wanted to advertise it as a lesbian-owned business to create more community spaces for LGBTQ+ people in the area. This has helped them meet many people in a neighborhood already known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community, Dohner said.

The response has been “really great,” according to Dohner.They did a lot of advertising in person with posters and flyers. They also work to keep the window display interesting to attract people.

Neither had much business experience before opening the shop, aside from a few college classes or retail jobs. Dohner said the