Community Vitality
Craft Futures Fund - WNC Emergency Relief
Craft Futures Fund - WNC Emergency Recovery
WNC Craft Futures Cohort
Windgate-Lamar Fellowship
Craft Research Fund Artist Fellowship
Teaching Artist Cohort
Virginia A. Groot Craft Futures Residency
Research & Ideas
Craft Research Fund Grant
Craft Archive Fellowship
Curatorial Fellowship
Grant Recipients Archive
Alumni Network
Alumni Network
Grant Recipient
WNC Craft Futures Cohort
2025
Edwin Salas Acosta (Mexico-Costa Rica, 1974) is a multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of puppetry, theater, dance, and visual arts. For over 25 years, he has performed and exhibited his work across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, using handcrafted puppets and experimental storytelling to explore dark and complex themes.
His artistic practice blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary media, creating wooden puppets, interactive performances, and sculptural toy art. He has collaborated with international theater and dance companies, taught puppetry and political art workshops, and published a book on puppet mechanics. His work extends to multimedia and virtual reality, developing projects that merge physical and digital worlds.
Now based in the United States, he continues to create puppetry, printmaking, and interactive installations while pursuing a degree in New Media. His recent work includes large-scale public art commissions, virtual reality experiences, and toy sculptures exhibited in galleries and major conventions. At 50, he remains a full-time student and active artist, committed to pushing creative boundaries and engaging audiences through innovative storytelling.
Location
Asheville, NC
EDUCATION
SPECIALIZATION
Institution
Grant amount
$15,000
Also awarded
To learn more, please download Craft Matters, the Center for Craft’s strategic direction for 2023-2027.
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
→
Get closer to the Center. Sign up for our newsletter.
67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 785-1357 | info@centerforcraft.org
Gallery Hours: Mon–Sat, 10-6 Get more info >>
Center for Craft is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
EIN: 56-2096677
67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 785-1357 | info@centerforcraft.org
Gallery Hours: Tues–Sat, 10–6 get more info
Gallery Hours: Closed — Reopening Fall 2019