We’re all born with certain gifts, but the real magic is in how we share them. For Corey Bloomberg, that gift has always been a joyful, vibrant creativity. Growing up in Old Westbury, a community that has long nurtured curiosity and creativity, she found the perfect place to plant the seeds of what would become her brand, Corey Paige, known for its bright, playful “happy art.”

What makes her story so compelling is not just the success of her company but the heart behind it. Corey has taken her natural eye for color and used it to bring moments of unexpected joy to people in all kinds of places. Her work has brightened the hectic energy of travelers at JFK, energized fans at Madison Square Garden, and offer comfort and wonder to patients at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and children at Sunrise Day Camp. At every scale, her art carries the same simple mission: to make people feel a little happier and a little lighter.

By staying true to that goal, Corey has built a career that transcends her sketchbook, bringing color to people across the country. And this year, she’s putting that same imagination to work on her most personal project yet—her upcoming wedding!

In this month’s cover story, Corey shares her journey from doodling in the margins of her Wheatley schoolbooks to creating art that inspires joy on a grand scale, reminding us that the simplest gifts, when shared with heart, can bring joy, connection, and even a little love into the world.

Growing up in Old Westbury and taking art classes at both Wheatley High School and SUNY Old Westbury helped shape my art style and love for art. 

As a kid, I always loved to draw—sketching on notebook margins during class (my math teacher would always call me out!), doodling on placemats at restaurants (still do this!), or personalizing college gifts for friends long before I ever thought about starting a business. All of this started in my childhood home in Old Westbury.

I was getting requests left and right for custom designs, and I had started selling my artwork on products—but the true lightbulb moment happened when retail stores began reaching out asking to carry my pieces. Suddenly I was getting emails from shops every day. That’s when it clicked: this wasn’t just a fun hobby in my dorm room… it had the potential to become something real.

One of my most memorable projects was being commissioned to create a series of four murals for JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at JFK Airport. As a born-and-raised New Yorker, it felt incredibly special to bring my vibrant style into a space that so many people pass through every day. I wanted the murals to brighten the travel experience, as you’d imagine airports can be hectic. So I focused on bold colors, uplifting themes, and little hidden moments that would make people pause, smile, and maybe even snap a photo as they walked by.

The reaction was amazing. Travelers sent me photos of themselves in front of the murals, kids would point out their favorite elements, and people shared stories that the walls brought an unexpected moment of happiness to their day. Seeing art transform such a high-traffic, high-stress space reminded me of just how powerful public art can be. It also became a huge milestone for my career—those murals opened the door to so many new opportunities and projects that followed.

Community has played such an important role in my career, both creatively and personally. The Adobe community has been especially meaningful—connecting with artists from around the world who use the same art programs that I do and have a similar understanding of the art work life balance as me. Through Adobe events and creative spaces, I’ve met people who’ve become true artistic peers. It’s been a lot of fun.

My family has also been an enormous part of this journey. During the pandemic, when I was stuck at home and started selling my designs on face masks, our dining room turned into an assembly line—everyone pitched in, helping with packaging and organizing orders. And to this day, my mom is in the studio with me during busy work days and my dad is helping me with business questions just a phone call away.

I’ve also formed online friendships with other muralists and artists through Instagram. We message all the time—sharing tips, swapping product recommendations, and cheering each other on. Those relationships remind me that even though creating art can be solitary, the community behind it is anything but.

Yes! I actually just shared a partnership I did with Yahoo and Heely’s, where I painted a pair of Heely shoes and we’re running an Instagram giveaway. It was such a fun, nostalgic project. I’m also working on designing a Mahjong set that will hopefully launch in the spring!

I’ve partnered with Iscream for years through a licensing collection that turns my art into clothing, bedding, accessories, and more—and I’m thrilled to be releasing a new seasonal collection with them. I also launched a ski and snowboard collaboration with Gilson Snow this month. Skiing has always been a big part of my life—I even got engaged on the slopes—so creating skis and snowboards covered in my bright, graffiti-inspired artwork felt especially full-circle.

Speaking of getting engaged, another major “project” I’m working on is my upcoming wedding! I’m currently designing the invitations and a bunch of other creative elements for the weekend, so stay tuned for more.

I feel incredibly grateful that something that started as simple doodles in my sketchbook has grown into a full-scale brand that reaches kids, teens, and families to spread happiness across the country (and beyond!). Whether it’s through murals, collaborations, or licensing partnerships, my goal is always the same: to spread joy, positivity, and creativity through art, and I couldn’t be luckier that Old Westbury planted that seed for me.