Every so often in San Miguel, you meet someone whose story feels like it could only have unfolded here, where daring choices, cultural mash-ups, and creativity swirl together into something magnetic. For me, one of those people is my friend and artist, Kato Rempel.
Kato’s journey began in Vancouver, BC, where she worked in digital graphic design during its groundbreaking years. After more than a decade, she did what few would dare: she left behind stability and moved her family to Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka became her living classroom, where she absorbed influences of architecture, color, and culture. It was there she discovered oil painting, the medium that would define her artistic path.
When she returned to Canada, she settled in Kelowna, BC, where she studied with mentors such as Kristy Gordon, Jerry Markham, and American plein air painter John Barry Raybould. Over the next decade, she thrived in the Western Canadian art market and earned recognition as a Senior Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.
But reinvention is in her DNA. In 2023, she felt the pull of Mexico, and specifically San Miguel de Allende, a UNESCO World Heritage city known as a creative mecca. Here she envisioned something bigger than her own practice: a place where artists could connect, learn, and create together.
In 2025, that vision became Allende Arts Space, a 3,000-square-foot sanctuary in the heart of Santa Julia. The building includes a soaring atrium for classes and exhibitions, four working studios for local artists, and two live/work spaces for visiting artists. Residencies range from three weeks to three months, giving creatives time to dive deeply into their work while experiencing San Miguel’s magic. Weekly life drawing, painting sessions, and master classes round out the offerings, alongside gallery exhibitions that foster collaboration and visibility.
What sets Allende Arts Space apart is its ethos. This isn’t about exclusivity; it’s about community. Artists from around the world come here to experiment, recharge, and share ideas in a supportive environment. Local artists find dedicated space, while visiting residents are encouraged to bring fresh perspectives. The result is an atmosphere where cross-pollination isn’t just welcomed, it’s expected.
Kato is joined in this endeavor by Jim Kraus, an American expat from Detroit who has called San Miguel home for nearly a decade. A former Creative Director turned fine artist, Jim brings his background in collaborative studios and his practice in paint and recycled wood sculpture. Together, they’ve shaped Allende Arts Space into something that feels part workshop, part salon, and part sanctuary.
San Miguel has always been a magnet for creativity, but Allende Arts Space feels like the next chapter, a place where global and local talent meet, where experimentation is celebrated, and where the focus is on process as much as product. For Kato, it’s the culmination of decades spent chasing discovery across continents. For the rest of us, it’s a gift: a home for creativity that reflects the spirit of San Miguel itself.
About Allende Arts Space
Founded: 2025 by Kato Rempel, SFCA
What You’ll Find:
- Visiting Artist Residencies (3 weeks–3 months)
- Working Studio Rentals for local artists
- Large atrium for workshops, classes, and shows
- Weekly life drawing and master classes
- Gallery and exhibition space
Location: Santa Julia, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Contact: kato@katodesign.ca
Website www.AllendeArts.space
About the author: Tiffany Paige, real estate advisor with The Agency and founder of Casas & Cacti, speaks many love languages, design, lifestyle storytelling, and helping people find their home in San Miguel.
