Federico Cuatlacuatl, an artist born in San Francisco Coapan, Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, and currently based in Virginia,  is invested in an artistic practice at the intersection of Nahua immigration, social art practice, and cultural sustainability.
 

As an individual who has experienced the challenges of growing up as an undocumented immigrant and formerly holding DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Federico's practice is an exploration of the complex interplay between Indigineity and immigration within the context of our contemporary era. His creative practice is a testament to his commitment to shedding light on Nahua indigenous immigration, a topic that holds personal significance to him.

 

Federico's recent research and artistic production pivot around the convergence of transborder indigeneity, the experiences of migrant indigenous diasporas, and the possibilities of Nahua futurisms. His thought-provoking work has garnered recognition on both national and international stages, with independent productions screened at various esteemed film festivals and exhibitions featured in museums and galleries across the globe.

 

In 2016, Federico took a pivotal step towards communality in his practice by founding the Rasquache Artist Residency in Puebla, Mexico. This initiative serves as a testament to his dedication to socially engaged works and binational endeavors, while also offering a platform for artists to explore their creative endeavors in communal contexts.

 

Federico's work has been featured in the 2023 Historias Indigenas exhibition at the Museum of Art Såo Paulo in Brazil; the 2023 Larnaca Biennale Home Away From Home;  the 2023 BFI London Film Festival, Institute of Contemporary Arts in London; the 2023 X Muestra Internacional de Videoarte in Medellin, Colombia; the 2023 Festival de Cine Experimental Bogota, Colombia; the 2023 Video Art Miden in Kalamata, Greece; the Videnoale.19 at the Bonn Museum of Modern Art, Germany; the Moss Arts Center of Virginia Tech University; the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art; Centro de la Imagen in Mexico City; Musée des Confluences in Lyon, France; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; the Museum of Art & History Santa Cruz; the Seamar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture in Seattle, Washington; El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe in New Mexico; the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco; the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada; the Wexner Center for the Arts.