Shivangi Sinha
Living undetected inside a shopping mall for years was no small achievement. Andrew Oesch was among the original group that came together around Michael Townsend during a period of major change in Providence, Rhode Island, when artists were facing a serious housing crisis. Netflix’s ‘Secret Mall Apartment’ reunites Andrew with the other members for an on-camera interview for the first time. In the documentary, he reflects on the close-knit community they formed, their shared faith in art, and how the project functioned as a quiet but powerful act of resistance against displacement and the changing urban landscape.
Andrew Oesch Knew Michael Townsend Before Living With Him in the Mall
Andrew Oesch, along with Michael Townsend, Adriana Valdez Young, and Jay Zehngobert, was among the first to begin exploring the idea of secretly living inside the Providence Place Mall. Andrew explained that the common thread connecting them all was Michael, who had previously taught them as graduate students and later became a close friend. What began as a playful experiment quickly turned into a serious exploration of how unused space could be reimagined within a rapidly developing city that was constantly expanding yet leaving little room for artists. Andrew said the group often joked that they were acting as “mini developers,” slowly shaping roughly 750 square yards of overlooked space.
At its core, the project started as a lighthearted bet about who could last the longest living there. As ideas evolved, they briefly considered turning the space into a store, but ultimately decided that creating a concealed living space made the most sense. He also spoke about the practical challenges involved, including the use of cinder blocks to build walls that would keep the apartment hidden. The group carefully brought in materials while avoiding security cameras, relying on patience, planning, and trust. Through these efforts, they managed to remain undetected for years and maintained the space until the project came to an end in 2007.
Andrew Oesch is Involved in the Artistic Mentorship of Students Today
Andrew Oesch is a Providence-based artist and educator whose career has unfolded through youth mentorship and community-centered learning. He started working in the mid-2000s, when Providence was a fertile ground for experimental and socially engaged art practices. In 2006, Andrew became an Artist Mentor at New Urban Arts, a Providence nonprofit dedicated to empowering high-school students through free access to studio space, mentorship, and contemporary art practices. Working directly with teens, he supported projects that emphasized experimentation. His mentorship from 2006 to 2008 helped establish his reputation as an educator who treated learning as a creative collaboration rather than a top-down process.
In 2007, Andrew expanded his public art practice through Magic City Repairs, a participatory installation co-created with artist Jean Cozzens at Stairwell Gallery and Dirt Palace in Providence. The project invited community members to collectively build a cardboard “mini-metropolis,” encouraging reflection on urban life, repair, and civic imagination. That same year and into 2008, Andrew worked as a teaching artist at Charles Fortes Elementary School, leading workshops alongside Holly Ewald. These classroom-based projects explored visual storytelling and temporary transformations of school spaces and were later documented in the Providence Public Library archives. He co-led comics and printmaking workshops in Providence neighborhood libraries with Walker Mettling, using the accessible language of comics to explore narrative, collaboration, and community history.
By the 2010s, Andrew transitioned from mentor to leadership at New Urban Arts, joining its board of directors and serving as Secretary, helping guide the organization’s long-term mission supporting youth creativity. In 2018, he became lead artist for Meow City, a public art project in Woonsocket created with teens from Riverzedge Arts and commissioned by The Steel Yard. During the 2020s, Andrew continued producing participatory public works, including sidewalk murals for events such as the Harvesting Rain Arts Festival. Today, Andrew works as a 7th- and 8th-grade teaching artist at The Learning Community in Central Falls and as an artist educator at the RISD Museum, where he continues to foster collaborative, youth-centered art making rooted in curiosity, play, and shared meaning. He keeps his personal life private but is very visible through his art and professional endeavors.
