Marie Franco's work explores immigrant identity, labor, and found community through vibrant painting and storytelling. Her current practice focuses on cultural ecosystems like the Swap Shop—spaces where immigrant families build support networks and economic opportunity. Through observational painting and labor-centered narratives, Marie highlights the bonds that connect diasporic communities beyond language and difference—preserving the rhythms, resilience, and stories that define life in South Florida.
Marie teaches at Pérez Art Museum Miami and hosts independent workshops across Miami. We’re so excited to see what she creates this summer
Sofia Valiente is a documentary artist (and 2025 #Wavemaker Grantee!) whose practice blends photography, archival research, and immersive storytelling to challenge dominant narratives and center marginalized voices. Rooted in South Florida, her work dives into the region’s layered histories—from the transformation of the Everglades to the lived realities of farming and farmworker communities around Lake Okeechobee. Through long-term, embedded projects like Foreverglades and Ivy Ridge, she investigates the ethics of authorship, power, and representation.
Sofia’s public installations, including a steamboat time capsule exhibition, bring these stories to coastal audiences while raising urgent questions about land, memory, and environmental futures. We’re excited to see how she expands this work during her residency!
We're excited to see what these talented artists create while in residence through October 7!
