Five emerging Latino artists have been selected for the 2026 Micaela Salinas Artist Fellowship, which provides studio space and financial support to help artists develop new work for solo exhibitions.
The fellowship, organized by Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD), provides temporary studio space with 24-hour access and a $250 materials stipend. The program aims to help artists experiment with larger-scale projects and build a cohesive body of work.
The five fellows are Sara Isabel Donoso, Vanessa Tejeda, Samantha Lezama, Nilvio Alexander Punguil Bravo and Rolando Cruz. Their work spans multimedia art, oil painting, visual storytelling, mixed media and photography, exploring themes of identity, cultural heritage, family and community.
The artists will showcase their work at a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Common Wealth Gallery, 100 S. Baldwin St. in Madison.
“The Micaela Salinas Artist Fellowship creates opportunities for emerging Latino artists to dedicate time and space to their creative practice, experiment with larger-scale projects, and develop work that can lead to a solo exhibition,” said Oscar Mireles, founder and director of LOUD, in a press release. “By investing in these emerging artists, we strengthen the visibility of Latino creativity and contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive arts community in Wisconsin.”
LOUD is a statewide initiative that promotes collaboration among Latino arts and service organizations, artists and the communities they serve. The organization supports Latino artists and works to foster a more inclusive and culturally rich Wisconsin.
Donoso, an Ecuadorian American artist from Sun Prairie and recent University of Wisconsin–Madison graduate, creates multimedia work using vibrant colors, geometric patterns and flowing imagery to explore identity, self-discovery and acceptance.
Tejeda, a Madison-based oil painter with a background in biology and microbiology, draws on her experiences growing up in the Midwestern Mexican community. Her work explores identity, community and social perceptions amid recent political climates. She was recently featured in the “Entre Tonos” exhibition at the Dubuque Museum of Art and at 100state.
Lezama, a Chicago-based Chicana visual artist, writer and arts leader, explores family, cultural memory, labor and the connections between people, place and tradition. Her artistic practice began with community mural-making. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a certificate in studio art from UW–Madison and is pursuing a master’s degree in arts administration.
Punguil Bravo, an Ecuadorian-born, self-taught artist and musician based in Madison, works in painting, printmaking, comics and mixed media. He began painting at age 5 and said art became a way to communicate and connect after he immigrated to the United States without speaking English. He has participated in solo and group exhibitions, community events and fundraisers since 2010 and is a Ph.D. candidate at UW–Madison.
Cruz, a photographer and artist, explores personal identity, emotional landscapes and intimate moments. His work draws on cultural heritage and personal experience to examine the stories and feelings that shape individual lives and human connections.
The fellowship is intended to help emerging Latino artists in Dane County advance their careers by providing space and resources to develop work for solo exhibitions. Previous fellows Chele Ramos and Rodrigo Carapia each presented a solo exhibition in 2026.
