On September 5th 2025, the world lost a unique soul, Michael Russek (1977–2025), a visionary artist, builder, and dreamer whose heart and creativity touched countless lives. He passed suddenly while on a work trip in Thailand, leaving behind a community that loved him deeply and a family whose world has been turned upside down.

In Bali, Michael's partner Aziza is mourning not only the love of her life but the future they had been building together. The funds we are raising will be used to provide support for Aziza in Bali, giving her a stable place to live and the chance to return to school to study nail art, something Michael loved, and which will give her a sustainable path forward and a way to create beauty in the world, just as Michael always did.

They will also help cover the expenses of Michael’s cremation and a traditional Balinese funeral, ensuring he is honored in the place and culture he came to love so deeply.

Michael lived fiercely, with vision and heart. He poured himself into art, into ideas, into friendships, and into the belief that the world could be made more beautiful and more true. By contributing, you help us honor that spirit — by caring equally for the people he loved most and by giving them the gift of time to mourn, heal, and begin to chart a new path forward.