Santi Caldeon Reyes (left) and Zamara Cuyún (righ
Please join us in welcoming the 2027 Full Color Printmaking Fellows Santi Calderon Reyes and Zamara Cuýun! With this fellowship, Santi and Zamara will enjoy twelve months of access the the cooperative printshop, a stipend, access to Highpoint classes and individual instruction, professional development and exhibition opportunities, and more!
About the artists:
Zamara Cuyún (she/her) is a self-taught, “Gringindia” artist and educator of de-Indigenized Guatemalan Highland Maya ancestry based in Minneapolis. She works primarily in acrylics, incorporating elements of Maya history, iconography, and worldview. Themes inspiring her work include histories of colonization and resistance, cultural resilience, social justice and the central role of women in these processes.
An active member of the Twin Cities’ Latinx art community, Cuyún has participated in public art projects, served on the Serpentina Arts leadership committee and co-curated the 2024 exhibition Latina and Latinx MN: Re/claiming Space in Times of Change at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery at St. Catherine University in St. Paul.
Primarily an acrylic painter, Zamara said she wants “to build a practice that moves beyond covering the world in plastic and toward more sustainable, environmentally friendly materials.” During the fellowship, Zamara “plans to experiment with printmaking techniques on ancestral Mesoamerican papers while learning to make my own papers, and possibly inks, from natural materials.”
Zamara said that the resources provided by the Full Color Fellowship will help her “grow and gain confidence both technically and conceptually.” She is eager to broaden her printmaking skillset through classes and instruction at Highpoint and to capitalize on the mentorship, critical feedback, and development opportunities. She added “I also hope to explore new ways to translate my current artistic style and visual language into printmaking… and maybe even break out of that “safe-zone” a bit.”
Santi Calderon Reyes (he/him) is a multidisciplinary creative working across design, printmaking, web production, cosplay, makeup, and sewing. His work is inspired by his Mexican Indigenous heritage, drawing from color, pattern, texture, symbolism, and language. Santi challenges the idea that design has a single aesthetic, pushing to celebrate diverse perspectives and creative approaches, particularly within BIPOC communities. Through his practice, he creates work that connects people, encourages conversation, and reflects his continued growth as an artist.
Professionally, Santi is a Graphic Designer and Social Media Specialist at Ragstock. He earned his BFA in Graphic Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2026 and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in digital marketing in the future.
Outside of design, Santi enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring local cafés, music venues, and markets, and spending time with his black cat, Teddy.
Santi is especially looking forward to learning more print techniques through opportunities at Highpoint and connecting with the community of artists here. He said “I learn through hands-on demos and being around new people and artists. I’m excited to be a part of new communities. When it comes to printmaking, there's a community around it: the ideation, process, progress, and finished work. Being around people with different backgrounds in how they create is very valuable, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
For his work, Santi plans to continue his research into how design can produce consequential connections. He said “Through informational zines, screen-printed merchandise, and fundraising projects, I use design to share information, support community organizations, and encourage participation. Moving forward, I want to explore how people engage with different mediums and how design can remain accessible, useful, and connected to the communities it serves.”
About the review panelist:
Esther Callahan is an independent curator, arts consultant, educator, and cultural leader with more than 20 years of experience creating platforms for artistic expression, cultural dialogue, and community engagement. Her work centers on building relationships between artists, institutions, collectors, and communities while expanding access to contemporary art, cultivating cultural memory, and building lasting cultural legacies.
She is the Founder and Curator of The BLK Collectors and Art Director of the Soul of the Southside Juneteenth Festival. Her previous leadership roles include Co-Director of the Emerging Curators Institute, DAMLI Curatorial Fellow at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Great Meadows Foundation Critic-in-Residence, and Co-Artistic Director of Arts + Rec US.
Callahan is also Community Faculty in the Fine Arts Department at Metropolitan State University, where she teaches Critiquing Racism in Art. Across her work, she approaches art as a catalyst for connection, community building, and the preservation of stories and creative contributions that shape our collective future.
