New York, NY —

A new study of the city's older artists reveals that in spite of their low incomes, they're still happy. Just don't mess with their rent-stabilized apartments. The report, from Teachers College, is based on 213 artists in the city. WNYC's Kathleen Horan attended a reception in their honor.

REPORTER: Many of the older artists who were part of the survey gathered at Sotheby's. Even though they range in age from 62 to 97, don't think shuffleboard and creamed corn. Instead, consider a silk bronze jumpsuit tucked into gold cowboy boots and a cheetah print faux fur coat. That's what collage and performance artist Vernita Nemec was wearing. She qualifies for the senior citizen discount, but she was far from the only funky-cool granny at the auction house. She moved into her loft in lower Manhattan about 35 years ago.

And like the nearly 60% of the other artists surveyed, she can stay in the city because of her affordable housing. But she wonders what other 20 somethings fresh from Ohio do now to make ends meet. She thinks the city should really help its creatives more.

NEMEC: I feel like we are not totally appreciated here and we are what made New York, New York - the theater, the visual arts and to have to pay $15 for a museum is insane. It's really too expensive.

REPORTER: It's no surprise that one of the recommendations of the report is that the city allow seniors on fixed incomes to remain in their rent-controlled and regulated apartments, and provide similar rent regulations for younger artists just starting out. For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.