PAINTED RED

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Carretera de Oaxaca a Puerto Ángel Kilómetro #29

(From US) Cell: 011-52-951-181-3542
(In Oaxaca) Cell: 951-181-3542

Concepción takes special pride in the great detail of her pieces, finding inspiration for her work in nature.  She filters images and pictures through her vivid imagination, often applying a brilliant paint palette to them.   She creates a wide variety of beautifully decorated insects, and also vibrant cacti with painted butterflies and delicately textured rocks suspended from them. Concepción is also recognized for her Noah’s arks; elegant and expressive “Fridas” (figures based on Frida Kahlo); and many other types of female figures.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #430

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-1109
(In Oaxaca) Landline: 571-1109
 

The fertile family imagination is evident in the ceramic repertoire of Guillermina Aguilar Alcántara, which includes female figures (large, medium and small) in highly detailed costumes, right down to their dangling earrings. They are portrayed in every facet of daily life, such as selling and carrying their wares and nursing babies.  She also creates Trees of Life standing nearly a meter high; whimsical water jugs; and bells with animal heads. Guillermina considers the faces of her pieces, which are remarkably expressive, as her special contribution.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #432
artesanairenea@yahoo.com.mx

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-0334
Cell: 011-52-951-134-2586
(In Oaxaca) Cell: 951-134-2586
 

As one steps into Irene’s home and studio, the broad range of her work isimmediately evident. She is known for her individual pieces such as musicians, devils, monks, ”women of the night,” catrinas (elegantly dressed female figures for Day of the Dead); and for fruteros (fruit bowls) on whose rims sit an array of reclining figures, including lovers, or the Three Kings, or muertos (skeletal figures engaged in human activities). In addition, she creates spectacular sculptural works, such as complex market scenes or an earth mother melded with foliage.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #428
josefinam2@yahoo.com

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-0214
(In Oaxaca) Landline: 571-0214

Working in her mother and father’s tradition, Josefina has been deeply involved in her internationally recognized work as a ceramist. She created muñecas, male or female human figures, in a vast array of activities, venues and costumes.  She considered her specialties to include headdresses, mermaids, crosses, “women of the night,” the Last Supper and zocalo scenes (people seated on benches in the town square, including male lovers). These can be collected as individual figures or as elements to create scenes, such as a wedding, a funeral procession or a park bench. Josefina regards the faces of her figures, especially the noses, as her trademark. Since she has lost her vision in recent years, she presides over the work of her many children, who are excellent artists in their own right.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #428
demetrio0@yahoo.com

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-0214
Cell 011-52-951-130-9115
(In Oaxaca) Landline 571-0214
Cell: 951-130-9115
 

With extraordinary painting and sculpting talent, Demetrio blends his mother’s traditions with his own unique style.  His sensitive, quiet manner masks his artistic power.  Demetrio’s pieces, both muñecas (female figures) and tableaux wall plaques, are deeply personal interpretations of religious, cultural and family themes. These include the expulsion from the Garden of Eden; the angelic and diabolical sides of human nature; scenes of the Day of the Dead festivities; and a portrait of his mother in her creative, maternal and farming roles.  Demetrio considers his Frida Kahlo and individual skeleton pieces bearing diverse emotions to be his special designs. He also loves to paint, an art form he regards as complementary to his ceramic creations.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #428

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-0214
Cell: 011-52-951-182-6035
(In Oaxaca) Landline: 571-0214
Cell: 951-182-6035

Fernando is a 3rd generation member of the Aguilar family, the second youngest son of Josefina Aguilar Alcántara. The ceramic sculpture for which he was awarded honorable mention in FOFA’s 2013 young artists’ competition encompasses underwater and land scenes intended to convey the circle of life that begins with birth (the newborn baby) and ends with death. A tree, with its human heart and face, holds the moon but also blends into the sea. Butterfly children, who tend the natural environment to preserve it for the future, punctuate the scene. Flowers, a deer, fish, corn, and richly textured rock formations augment this effusive celebration of Mother Earth’s bounty. 

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongacion de Industria s/n
j.j.garciamix@hotmail.com

(From US) Cell 011-52-951-222-0050
(In Oaxaca) Cell: 951-222-0050

The only one of Josefina Aguilar’s children who has a workshop outside of the family compound, José Juan specializes in highly detailed interpretation of ordinary people engaged in everyday activities, e.g., making tortillas, selling in the market. Proud of being Oaxacan, he also portrays the culture of his state, e.g., masks found in the ancient ruins of Monte Albán and dancers in the annual Guelaguetza celebration. José Juan likes to mix his own colors to achieve special effects, such as to achieve a baroque appearance, for example painting what is typically a white dress as off-white. His palette consists of extremely warm colors, sometimes accented with metallic tones of gold and copper.
 

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #428
lety_84@yahoo.com

(From US) Cell: 011-52-951-216-2421
(In Oaxaca) Cell: 951-216-2421

Leticia, the only daughter and fifth of nine children of Josefina Aguilar, learned to work in clay and to paint from her mother. Her figures, most of which are women, are notable for their emotionally expressive faces. Leticia finds inspiration in nature and her indigenous culture. She captures aspects of daily life, the flora and fauna of her village, and myths as seen in details of women selling in the market and fishing some of whom are pregnant, mermaids, and birds. The colors she selects for decorating her pieces contribute significantly to their effect; happy subjects must be conveyed in light rather than dark colors, she comments. 

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #428

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-0214
Cell: 011-52-951-223-8364
(In Oaxaca) Landline: 571-0214
Cell: 951-223-8364

Also taught by his renowned ceramicist mother, Josefina Aguilar, Rodrigo began to produce figures at eight years of age. Inspired by the many living things he observes when he works in the fields in his pueblo, he often gives human faces to the animals he sculpts.  Rodrigo explains that many animals are as intelligent as humans, demonstrating remarkable sensibility for nature for which humans do not always show respect. He expresses this in the background of his piece that has a deserted quality. Rodrigo paints his pieces, and is also helped by his wife.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #428
albanoemilopez_34@hotmail.com

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-0214
Cell: 011-52-951-570-3932
(In Oaxaca) Landline: 571-0214
Cell: 951-570-3932

Sergio, the third of Josefina Aguilar’s nine children, is inspired by typical scenes of people carrying out their daily work. For example, he captures the activities of a mezcalero who tends cactus in preparation for mezcal production and a man who sells pottery used for domestic purposes. He grew up playing with clay in his well-known ceramic family, producing his first piece when he was five. Sergio would like the public to grasp the complex process involved in creating the ceramic figures for which his family is known, beginning with collecting the clay from designated mines near his home, from which he had just come; he believes this would add to their appreciation of the value of this art.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
Prolongación de Morelos #428
albanoemilopez_34@hotmail.com

(From US) Landline 011-52-951-571-0214
(In Oaxaca) Landline 571-021

Alba began to work in clay at 16 years of age, learning from her mother-in-law, Josefina Aguilar, who has motivated her to persist, allowing shape to emerge from clay in her hands.  The piece for which Alba received honorable mention in FOFA’s 2013 young artists’ contest features a woman, water and earth. Alba explained that the plant being born in the woman’s stomach symbolizes life. There are three surrounding trees, each one forming the shape of a face, sculpted as butterflies, symbolizing life in nature. Alba worries that, “the earth that we have is in decay; in the past we were able to see another kind of countryside that our children will not be able to enjoy.” 

Avenida Morelos #428, Ocotlán de Morelos 71510 
(To call from US, first dial 011-52)
Tel celular • Cell phone: 951-496-9821/Tel de casa
Landline: 951-571-0214
E: garcialopez-34@outlook.com

Jenifer, granddaughter of Josefina Aguilar, feels a strong connection with her ancestors because her people continue to follow their ancient traditions.  She learned her craft from her father Sergio, Josefina’s son, and from her extended family.  At the center of her piece stands a large leafy tree.  At its top, growing out of the trunk, is a divided head - half skeleton, half living being - which represents life and death. On the trunk is a fetus whose umbilical cord becomes the roots of life that extend beneath the tree. Draping down the tree trunk is a rebozo that shelters the people along its path. 

Avenida Morelos #428, Ocotlán de Morelos 71510
(To call from US, first dial 011-52)
Tel celular • Cell phone: 951-229-6402
Email: garcialopez-34@outlook.com

Margarita Noemí, granddaughter of renowned ceramic artist Josefina Aguilar, captures the joy of two old people showing their love by enjoying a “taco de chapulines” (grasshoppers) as they hope to sell their ceramics at a market. She is fascinated and inspired by details of daily life and nature that she incorporates in her work. Margarita Noemí overcomes personal difficulties by keen observation, always seeing elements of hope in everyday life. Coming from a ceramic dynasty -- she is the fifth generation -- she says that, even though she works almost out of habit, she wants to carry on the traditions of her family.

Avenida Morelos #428, Ocotlán de Morelos 71510
(To call from US, first dial 011-52)
Tel celular • Cell phone: 951-277-6419/Tel de casa • Landline: 951-571-0214
Email: garciafran41@yahoo.com
Facebook: Fran Garcia Vasquez
Instagram: fran.garciavasquez

Fran proudly continues the artistic tradition of her grandmother and father, master ceramicists. Fran interpreted the contest theme through a ceramic sculpture conceptualizing village market life as growing organically out of the mouths of two figures (male and female) at the base of the piece. Branches spread upward with figurines representing personalities and produce – e.g, ceramics, flowers, turkeys, watermelons and bananas -- of local pastoral life. At the center stands a prominent depiction of a female figure embracing a stylized Church of Ocotlán and anchoring the swirl of communal activity around her. In her heart she carries a fetus, the future of the pueblo. As Fran explains, “She holds the reins of the family.” In addition to supporting her in her artistic endeavors, Josefina and other members of her family have given Fran the strength to embrace her transgender life, something that is extremely difficult in her pueblo culture.

Pueblo of Ocotlán de Morelos
2a Privada de Industria #39

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-539-6582
Cell: 011-52-951-107-4377
(In Oaxaca) Landline: 539-6582
Cell: 951-107-4377
 

Young Josefina learned this craft at the feet of her father and grandmother, ceramists Demetrio García and Josefina Aguilar. “Soy Oaxaca” represents women throughout the Central Valleys of Oaxaca. On her head rests a basket holding La Soledad, the patron saint of Oaxaca state, in a place of honor. Scattered on her skirt are examples of the folk arts of the region: textiles, ceramics, cornhusk work, and a Day of the Dead skull. She explains, “I started by making little balls and sticks, and gradually added other more complicated forms.“ Josefina hopes to continue to develop her ceramic work, and perhaps to become famous one day. 

Avenida Morelos #428, Ocotlán 71510
Cell phone (From US) 011-52-951-464-3088
(In Oaxaca) 951-464-3088
Email: crissart26@gmail.com
Instagram: cristopher__art

Christopher started working in clay when he was seven years old. His grandmother, the renowned Josefina Aguilar, and his accomplished father, Demetrio García Aguilar, have instilled in him a love of clay and the importance of family traditions. He describes his piece with good humor: the flying figure is his mama who is helping him achieve his dreams; the Monarch butterfly, his favorite, represents hope since “If you can capture a butterfly” — metaphorically speaking — “you can attain your dreams.” Christopher looks forward to experimenting with different styles and ideas and finds artwork calming as he organizes his time to paint and work with clay.

Pueblo of San Antonino del Castillo Velasco
Macedonio Alcalá #6 

(From US) Landline: 011-52-951-571-1631
(In Oaxaca) Landline: 571-1631

With his fertile imagination, Luis Valencia creates prominent, boldly painted ceramic pieces that blend tradition and modernity. His work is intended to share the legends, traditions and customs of his Zapotec pueblo, as well as the desires and hopes of his people. In his words, “the oral tradition of Oaxaca travels in the ceramic works and painting of Luis Valencia!” Luis also paints voluminous canvases in both oil and watercolor.