who I am & what I’ve done
Santi Tonauac Castro (he/him) is an Indigenous Mexican-Cuban 2spirit artist.
His practice explores anti-disciplinary modes of embodiment & cosmic source translations. He’s a decolonial border challenger, a traditional Aztec danzante & a tattooed sweetheart.
In his hometown, Philadelphia, his play MANFLOR won a BIPOC New Work Grant with Cannonball Fest produced in the Philadelphia Fringe. His play BLACK LUNG was featured in the 24-Hour Plays Fest at Interact Theatre. His play GENTE DEL SOL was showcased in PlayPenn’s 2022 New Play Festival, and made the 2023 Kilroys List. Santi is a proud 2019 YoungArts Playwriting winner. Santi has also worked as an art teacher with The Philadelphia School District, Mural Arts, the Philadelphia Art Museum, Taller Puertorriqueño, and backstage with The Arden, Quintessence & 1812 Productions. He has been commissioned by SEPTA for his visual art working on the project Along The 23. In 2022 he created a mural for People’s Light production of Mushroom by Eisa Davis. Santi attended UArts majoring in playwriting, minoring in sculpture! Santi completed a mentorship program with Young Arts and received guidance from Lemon Andersen & CQ Quintana.
Currently in London, he’s studying toward his MFA in Queer Performance at Rose Bruford. He is honored to have been mentored by Miss Rose Wood and Travis Alabanza, & is a 2025-2026 Resident artist at The Roundhouse. He’s performed & worked with Piehouse Co-op, Peckham Levels, Clapham Grand, The Divine, Ugly Duck, Hackney Showrooms, Bold Mellon, The National Gallery & various jazz jams & poetry readings.
When he’s not busy creating, Santi loves to be silly with his friends at queer events, research topics he is passionate about, cook feasts for his community, collect orange sunglasses, & toys from his childhood.
why I make art
I am the person my ancestors whispered and dreamed about. It is because of them that I am here & that I create. I write nourishment for the lonely & fight loud for the quiet. I am if cumbia escaped the Mexican immigrant hearts in South Philly and flooded all of Broad Street, I am that dude who scratches poems into SEPTA seats whenever I can. I am a Native Danzante, dance & writing are my prayers to the liminal. I write as if I’m dancing, the sound of the huehuetl following me as I move- I am the guidance that brings forth rhythms and souls
I write in hope that my words will become hieroglyphs- symbols for future lives to saturate and find relief in. Within, there is an urge to dig to the core. My work is liberated when held by others. I aim to be strong and activate tender revelation. I seek to destroy and soar through expectations. My work is mystical and dives into the unknown, holding mirrors up to flawed humans asking what can and what will. My work is existential. It never gives direct answers. I instill in my audience an unscratchable itch that will keep them questioning. My Indigenous Mexican heritage leads me to write about sacrifice. What do we give up everyday to keep going, tangible or not? What traditions and routines do we innovate and follow to survive? I create vulnerable work that highlights the resilience of my Cuban ancestors as well- I uplift generations of perseverance and bravery. My art is a promise to myself and others of my communities. I promise with my art that I will preserve our culture and let it root and blossom.