Our Co-Founder Story
Aguas Migrantes was founded in 2016 by Samu Cortez and Vreni Michellini Castillo. Both are artists and educators who built their careers from the ground up—learning independently and through the guidance of mentors, peers, and community—while navigating the U.S. art world. As educators working within a challenging economic landscape, funding an artist residency, especially one based abroad, felt nearly impossible.
They envisioned a residency for artist-workers that respected limited time and resources—one that would not become an economic burden for participants. The few fully funded residencies they encountered were highly competitive, and they also wanted to challenge the idea of participating in a residency without reciprocity. Their vision was rooted in balance: artists would gain knowledge and space to create while also giving back to the local communities hosting them through shared skills, labor, and cultural exchange.
With very modest means, Aguas Migrantes was launched as a grassroots, community-supported project. Lack of funding did not stop the work. The residency came to life through the collective support of friends and community members who believed in the vision—those who donated their time and talents, supported fundraisers and exhibitions, purchased merchandise, participated in raffles, attended events, hosted organizers, or simply helped spread the word.
In 2020, the project began to shift in scope, and in 2021, Samu Cortez and Ana Bedolla initiated conversations about creating a permanent physical space in La Loma, Guanajuato, to host the Aguas Migrantes residency. Now, five years later, Samu and Ana—along with Alejandra Perez, Onyinye Alheri, and Omar Navia—are coming together to launch a new chapter of Aguas Migrantes, expanding what it offers to artists and the broader community through this shared creative home: