CURATING PUBLIC SPACES, BRINGING ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO LEARN, CREATE, AND COLLABORATE.

Projects

MALINALLI GARDEN

PUBLIC SPACE // 'Jardin Malinalli', Community Garden est. 2018

28th & Ridgeway, Little Village, Chicago

Initiated and led the creation, design, and development of a vacant city lot into a vibrant public green space through native planting, public art, volunteer workdays, collaborations, and community programming.

Awarded the LISC Chicago 2023 Chicago Neighborhood Development – John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Creative Placemaking Award

GRILLZ__Secret of Manna

MASTER CLASS // 'Intro to Grillz' course, Spring & Summer 2025

SHARING THE SECRET OF MANNA: distilled from over 10,000 hours of experience, in one comprehensive master class

Wax & Mold
Lost Wax Casting
Filing & Polish Gold / Silver

Consulting Group studio at Mana Contemporary, Pilsen, Chicago

3D SCULPTING___Secret of Manna

MASTER CLASS // 3D Jewelry Design, Spring 2025

Consulting Group studio at Mana Contemporary, Pilsen, Chicago

3D SCULPTING__Secret of Manna at The Malin SoHo

WORKSHOP // 3D Jewelry Design, 04.2025

The Malin Soho, New York, NY

GARGOYLE__Sculpture Project

PUBLIC ART // 'New Age Grotesque', est 2023

Merging gothic architecture and design with modern day technology. Students explore the full creative process of designing a gargoyle that contributes to a public space - sculpting in 3D, fabricating at a foundry, and curating a group exhibition.

Pilsen & Little Village, Chicago

3RUN2___Artist Series

PRODUCTION // Merchandise Design Curation

Artists:

'Jerry Chingas' Carillo, 05.2024

Joseph 'Sentrock' Perez, 09.2023

Cecilia Beaven, 06.2023

3RUN2___Museum Exhibition

PRODUCTION // Gallery Curation, Group Run, Gallery Tours, 10.2023

Showcasing 10 years of 3RUN2 through photography by co-founder Micaela Bernal

National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, Chicago

3RUN2___Marathon Party

PRODUCTION // Art Activation, 10.2024

Live screenprinting with artist 'Clue?' and New Balance Running

City Hall Events, West Loop, Chicago

3RUN2___Youth Program

PROGRAM // Connecting Arts & Wellness, Spring & Fall 2023

Offered to youth in collaboration with running community 3RUN2.

National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, Chicago

PALI MURAL SERIES__Kiki x Mario Mena

PUBLIC ART // 'A Palestinian and a Mexican get together and f*ck up a wall!', Kiki Salem and Mario Mena, 07.2024

48' x 16', wall paint and aerosol

1103 W 31st St, Bridgeport, Chicago

PINSTRIPING__Classic Sign Studio

WORKSHOP // Traditional Pinstriping Techniques with Jerry Chingas of Classic Sign Studio.

Work26 Skate Shop, Little Village, Chicago, 01.2025

National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, Chicago, 05.2024

ECODYE__Mamifero

WORKSHOP // Aura Impressions

Ancestral techniques weaving land, memory, and process using flowers, roots, and bark to dye silk with Oaxacan artist, Itzel Gutierrez aka Mamifero.

Sentrock Studio, Pilsen, Chicago, 06.2025

Malinalli Garden, Little Village, Chicago, 10.2022

LOWRIDER__Bike Project

PROGRAM // 'Street Legends' Youth Bike Club, Summer 2024

Offered to youth in collaboration with artists Cesar Bravo, Salvador Vega, Jerry Chingas, and Camacho incorporating lowrider culture, bike mechanics, metal fabrication, custom paint job & pinstriping techniques.

Little Village & Pilsen, Chicago