Sumercé Artisans is built on connection.

Between artists and communities, tradition and modern life, Colombia and the Midwest—we exist to share stories through handmade work.

Sumercé is a word deeply rooted in the culture of Boyacá, Colombia.

Born from su merced—“your grace” in Spanish—it has traveled through generations, transforming from a formal address into something more intimate. When spoken, sumercé carries respect, affection, and an unspoken understanding between people.

In the highlands of Boyacá, it’s a word shared between neighbors and artisans, elders and friends. It’s an offering of warmth, a gesture of humility, a reminder to see one another with care. More than language, it reflects a way of moving through the world—with patience, presence, and quiet generosity.

The Beginning

“My name is Casey French, founder of Sumercé Artisans. Photography has always been my language, but storytelling is my purpose. That purpose found its voice in 2014, when I traveled to Colombia as a volunteer photographer for Fundación Montecito. Fresh out of college and armed only with theory, I arrived in Sogamoso to document the Sugamuxi province of Boyacá—a list of thirteen towns and days spent wandering with a camera and no expectations. I was told to trust my eye, to capture what felt true. Without realizing it, I was learning how to listen.”

Photography for Good

“That first experience shaped everything that followed. Around the world, I used photography as a tool for social good—supporting animal adoptions in Morocco, documenting stories of addiction and homelessness in my hometown, and even bicycling 3,400 miles across the United States to raise funds for nonprofits during the pandemic. Again and again, I saw how stories could build empathy, connection, and real change. But no place stayed with me the way Boyacá did. The warmth, generosity, and love I experienced there defied explanation—until I realized it lived in a single word: sumercé.”

The Bridge

“Sumercé Artisans is the bridge between my two homes, built slowly over more than a decade. Every purchase supports artisans in Boyacá and honors the people who gave me belonging before I knew I was looking for it. This is not just a business—it is a commitment to reciprocity, preservation, and care. To serve the community that shaped me, and to protect the land and culture that gave me my voice, is the greatest privilege of my life.”

Casey French
Founder of Sumercé Artisans

Meet the Team

Casey French

FOUNDER

Casey French is a photographer based in Wisconsin, USA. In 2014, he accepted a volunteer position in Sogamoso, Boyacá as a photographer for the non-profit organization Fundación Montecito. The goal of this project was to create a portfolio of photographs to help promote responsible eco-tourism and fund conservation efforts for the region. Over the years, he has felt a strong emotional connection to Sugamuxi, the province of present-day Sogamoso and the thirteen surrounding towns of Muisca descent. Casey has committed to working with independent artisans whom incorporate ancestral techniques while also supporting projects that preserve Lake Tota and the history of the Muisca.
Derly Molina

COORDINATOR & TALENT ACQUISITIONIST

Derly Molina is a leatherworker and instructor from Sogamoso, Boyacá. Derly discovered her passion for crafting after earning her degree in Industrial Design and founded Hoja de Roble, blending her design expertise with local identity. As an instructor, Derly is committed to passing on her knowledge and skills to the next generation of artisans. She has a deep respect for the wisdom and knowledge that these artisans possess and strives to learn from them whenever possible. She believes that by honoring these traditions, we can keep them alive and ensure that they continue to enrich our lives and contribute to our cultural heritage. Derly often works directly with vulnerable populations, such as people with disabilities and women victims of armed conflict, by teaching them valuable techniques to improve their quality of life.
Braeden Teifke

GALLERY MANAGER / ADVOCATE

Braeden Teifke, a musician and photographer from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, serves as the Gallery Manager for the physical location of Sumerce Artisans since our inception in December 2023. His role oversees the day-to-day operations and acts as the primary point of contact for our local partners and clients, playing an important part in connecting our organization with the Fond du Lac community and beyond.
Felipe & Juanita Velasco

ADVISORS / ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNER

Felipe and Juanita Velasco founded Fundación Montecito in 2010, and it’s been their field of endeavor since, mainly on Lake Tota (largest high-Andean lake in Colombia), and more recently also on Eastern Andes ‘La Hondura’ canyon, in Santander. Their mission is to work on benefit of Andean mounts and wetlands, it’s been mostly at Lake Tota and highland páramos. They take a governance and an integrated approach, highlighting a variety of CEPA activities, considering this work mainly as a long-term and complex process. An achievement short time ago was to lead an international award on sustainable tourism as part of the Top-100 Global 2017 Green Destinations for Lake Tota, later (2018) upgraded as Top-3 Green Destinations Americas given at ITB fair, Germany.