Who we are
Founded by Judy Yin Shih and Travis Preston, Three Friends/One Spirit grew from decades of artistic collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting spaces where artists can create freely.
We believe art thrives where there is trust, time, and openness. Friendship is our foundation. We see it as a creative force that allows artists to take risks, explore deeply, and grow together.
What we do
We support artists by offering:
Time to explore
Space to experiment
Trusted partnership
Freedom from predetermined outcomes
We champion exploration and risk-taking. Through residencies, collaborations, performances, and site-responsive projects we create environments where new forms of expression can emerge.
Our Philosophy
Inspired by the philosophy of kintsugi—the art of mending what is broken with gold—we see creative practice as a process of renewal. We cultivate a community of artists, friends, and cultural partners across borders to build a landscape where imagination can flourish, cultural exchange is alive, and new work can emerge and grow through trust, friendship, and creative risk.
Three Friends / One Spirit exists to hold space for that possibility— to gather the shards, to mend with gold, to move forward together in a shared creative spirit.
Our Mission
Our mission is to cultivate a global community of artists and friends who collaborate across cultures and disciplines, creating work that expands perception, deepens human connection, and reflects the complexity of our shared world.
We support artist-led processes by offering time, trust, and space for exploration – believing that meaningful art grows from freedom, dialogue, and mutual respect.