Beaded “rosary” from Mexico: Michelle Bartolo-Cruz

Michelle “Mich” shares the story behind a beaded “rosary” that she and her mother found while emptying her grandmother’s home in Mexico. Like the fragile thread that holds the beads together, three generations of women have held together with strength and resilience.

Michelle Kennya Bartolo-Cruz is a multidisciplinary artist with Indigenous Otomí roots in Mexico, raised mostly in Nevada, and now based in Somerville, Massachusetts. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, her work explores cultural memory and the stories passed down through generations through painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Her piece, Muñeco Guardián, honors her grandmother's creativity and the resilience of three generations of women, celebrating the love, sacrifices, and traditions that connect her family across borders.