Each year, several artisans are awarded an Artisan Market Grant based on their craft, connection to Winterthur’s mission and history, and need for support. Read more about the talented artisans awarded grants in 2026.
Samara Santiago
How did you begin your work, and what is the message told behind your artwork?
I began my work when my daughter was just two months old, during a season when I felt deeply lost in motherhood. Learning to sew became a way to reconnect with myself while still caring for my family—it gave me a sense of identity, purpose, and creativity at a time when everything felt new and overwhelming. As my skills grew, so did my desire to build something meaningful with my hands. Over time, my work became shaped by motherhood, including navigating my child’s autism diagnosis and the realities of caregiving. The message behind my artwork is one of care, joy, and intention—creating playful, functional pieces meant to be used, loved, and woven into everyday family life.
What would receiving this grant mean to you?
Receiving this grant would mean the opportunity to continue building my work during a demanding season of motherhood, rather than having to pause or step away from it. It would provide the support needed to invest in materials and inventory needed for participation in Artisan Market, while gaining exposure to an audience that values craftsmanship and handmade tradition. Beyond the practical support, this grant would be a meaningful affirmation that my work and story have a place in this community. It would give me the ability to keep building something meaningful for my family while sharing my work with care, purpose, and love.
How does your work connect to Winterthur’s mission?
My work connects to Winterthur’s mission through a shared respect for craftsmanship, intentional design, and the role handmade objects play in everyday life. Winterthur celebrates the artistry and care behind objects made to be used, cherished, and passed through generations. In a similar way, my work focuses on thoughtfully made, functional pieces for families—items designed to bring joy while withstanding daily use. By creating handmade accessories and clothing rooted in care, tradition, and purpose, my work reflects the belief that well-made objects enrich daily life and carry meaning beyond their material form.
Tracy Williamson
Petals and Paper Botanical Studio
What is the message told behind your artwork?
I use a variety of media to create a visual story. I am inspired by nature, botanical elements, art history, animals, and children’s literature. I am weaving these contextual elements together with different media—my artwork is expressive. It explores visual elements and illustrative storytelling with a whimsical approach. I often use the simplistic nature of a pencil and paper to begin creating my ideas and artwork. My artwork unravels into a visual expression by adding color, composition, and design elements into the thought process.
How does your work connect to Winterthur’s mission?
My work aligns with Winterthur’s mission by integrating botanical imagery, animals, and natural elements to explore the relationship between self, object, and environment. Nature serves as both subject and guide, helping me create work that connects cultural memory, personal identity, and the living world around me.
Yuli Vinces
How did you begin your work, and what is the message told behind your artwork?
ArtesinA began from a desire to bring people together through a shared love for nature, art, and social causes. The project started as an exploration of combining traditional techniques like macramé with contemporary artistic processes, including transforming fragments of original paintings into wearable pieces. A key part of the practice is the thoughtful use of materials, giving new life to remnants of artwork and working with natural elements to reduce waste. Because of this process, each piece carries its own story and results in patterns that cannot be repeated, making every creation truly one of a kind. In addition, a portion of each purchase helps support dog and cat rescue initiatives.
What would receiving this grant mean to you?
Receiving this grant would make it possible for ArtesinA to participate in a high-quality artisan market like Winterthur’s, which would be an important step for our growth as an independent artisan business. It would allow us to share our work with a broader audience that values handmade craftsmanship, one-of-a-kind pieces, and thoughtful use of materials. It would also give us the opportunity to represent our approach of transforming original artwork into wearable pieces while supporting animal rescue causes. For a small emerging business like ours, opportunities like this help us continue developing our practice and building connections with a wider creative community.
How does your work connect to Winterthur’s mission?
Our work connects with Winterthur’s mission through a deep appreciation for handmade craftsmanship, creativity, and the cultural value of things created with care and intention. Through ArtesinA, we create pieces that bring together art, nature, and thoughtful design, encouraging people to connect with meaningful handmade work rather than mass-produced items. In this way, our work celebrates the idea that everyday pieces can carry stories, creativity, and human connection.
Interested in applying? Learn more.