Late last year we announced the first fellowship competition in honor of the late Marco Castro Cosio, an artist, technologist, organizer, convener, educator, and a beloved member of the Brown Institute. The grant will be awarded annually and consists of $10,000 in fiscal sponsorship and a residency at the Brown Institute at Columbia Journalism School. It aims to support emerging creators and researchers dedicated to impactful, interdisciplinary work in tech, media, and the arts.
This year, our first year, the winner is Lorena (Lolo) Ostia. She is a Peruvian-born, New York based multidisciplinary artist, educator and researcher. Through her work, she explores sustainable art practices, incorporating microbes, bacterial cellulose, recycled objects and bioplastics made from renewable sources.
As part of the Marco Castro Cosio Media Art and Technology Fellowship, I will explore the shared histories of Mexico and Peru, focusing on ancestral practices disrupted by colonization. By working with biomaterials — like microorganisms, natural dyes, and soil — I aim to reconnect with these traditions. This project honors ancestral knowledge, uplifts marginalized perspectives, and envisions a more sustainable, inclusive future through creativity. Through a decolonial lens, my project will highlight the hidden ecosystems behind natural dyes and their cultural significance using advanced microscopy. As a migrant artist, I find peace and belonging in working with living materials, which reflect my experiences of displacement and adaptation. – Lorena Ostia
A bit more about Lolo. In 2023 she was commissioned to create a site-specific installation at the BioBat Art Space in Brooklyn, New York’s only gallery focused on bioart. Her work has been featured in exhibits like The Every Woman Biennial and the Havana Biennial, and she has participated in artist residencies on Governors Island in New York. In June of 2024, her research on “The Future of Biodesign Education” was highlighted by Cambridge Press. In addition to her art, Lolo has worked as a producer and director of photography. Her photography has been featured in leading publications like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair Italia, among others.
While this was our first competition, it attracted incredible interest. We received over 100 applications, some proposing research, some presenting plans for an art installation, and others outlining community-building events. It was an extraordinary privilege to read through each one.
“Thank you” to everyone who participated, and consider applying for next year’s competition!