Café Y Vino,
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Problem: During a two-month stay in Buenos Aires, I wanted to give back to the local economy in a meaningful way. I had limited resources, but I did have my painting skills—and I was surrounded by cafés and wine bars struggling through a period of severe inflation. I wasn’t sure how I could help, but I knew I wanted to try. How might I develop

A charity initiative that leverages my artistic abilities to support local businesses and elevate the community.

Solution: I painted scenes in local cafés and wine bars using coffee and wine from each location. After one of my early sketches was displayed behind a bar, I began creating more, eventually producing a series that caught the attention of a local art director. I was invited to exhibit four pieces at OpenGallery in Palermo. Each painting was titled with the name and address of the business it depicted, and all proceeds—140,000 ARS total—were donated back to the four businesses (35,000 ARS each). The project offered a simple, creative way to support small local establishments during a time of economic instability.