Mexican Creative Trades New York for Nayarit

Why this is here: Cueva Rodríguez’s art project, “Viva La Lotería MX,” used portraits of migrants to challenge limited and often unfavorable perceptions of Mexican identity in the United States.

Andrea Cueva Rodríguez, a creative director originally from Monterrey, Mexico, left her career in New York City for a life in San Francisco, Nayarit, Mexico. For over a decade, she worked in Manhattan’s advertising industry, managing extensive projects and responsibilities. She began to feel unbalanced by the fast pace and urban lifestyle, despite achieving professional stability.

Cueva Rodríguez simultaneously explored meditation, tarot, and reiki, which became increasingly important to her. She also launched “Viva La Lotería MX,” an art project using portraits of migrants to address stereotypes. She felt disconnected from her interests while living a conventionally “successful” life in New York.

In 2020, she left her job and New York, traveling to Europe before settling in Nayarit. While the decision surprised some, Cueva Rodríguez prioritized a calmer life integrating her creative work with spiritual practices like sound therapy and yoga.

She now coordinates wellness activities, finding peace and connection to her roots. The article does not detail the long-term financial implications of this change.