Power and the Colors of the Americas: Natural Pigments Instructional Program

We are excited to invite you to Power and the Colors of the Americas: Natural Pigments Instructional Program, a three-week immersive experience in Oaxaca, Mexico, or Cusco, Peru. Designed for emerging and mid-career artists, designers, and photographers, this program provides hands-on training in traditional dyeing techniques while critically engaging with the historical, social, and ethical dimensions of natural pigments.

Through 27 hours of master instruction, you will work with cochineal, añil, pericón, and other natural dyes, learning traditional recipes, mordants, and fixatives. Beyond technical skills, the program fosters critical dialogue on the colonial legacies of color, ethical artistic practices, and the deep connections between materials, trade, and power.

A Transformative Approach to Color

This program is more than technical instruction—it is an opportunity to rethink artistic practice through four key concepts:

 The Connectivity of Concepts – Explore how natural dyes are deeply embedded in social, ecological, and historical contexts. Through academic visits and local engagement, connect hands-on work with broader conceptual frameworks.

 The Practice of Unlearning – Challenge dominant narratives about color theory, materials, and authorship. Examine the colonial histories of dye extraction and commodification, and reorient your practice with a more conscious approach to pigments and cultural heritage.

 The Rhythm of Creating – Question labor, history, and local knowledge through intuitive and research-based processes. Experiment with natural dyes in a dynamic space where making, questioning, and discovery unfold in constant dialogue.

 The Ethics of Movement – Reflect on the movement of materials, trade, and artistic knowledge. Consider how engaging with historically rich materials carries ethical responsibility and how artistic choices can challenge narratives and open spaces for dialogue.

Sessions are flexible, with dates proposed by applicants.

For tuition details and application deadlines, email info@arquetopia.org.