Mission

Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art (FOFA) seeks to preserve and promote the rich folk art traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico, which have been passed on from generation to generation over hundreds of years. FOFA collaborates with the local folk art community to create and implement a range of programs that support this mission.

FOFA’s programs are designed to provide:

Public exposure (both in Mexico and the US) to raise awareness and appreciation of these vibrant art forms;

Encouragement and support to young Oaxacan folk artists (artesanos) to strengthen their identity as artists, innovators, and stewards of ancestral techniques and designs;

Assistance in pursuing and refining their ancestors’ crafts while generating a sustainable livelihood, thus preserving their folk art traditions for generations to come; and

Enhancement of artesanos’ market opportunities through workshops, a directory on FOFA’s website in which they are featured and their contact information provided, assistance in planning folk art-based itineraries in Oaxaca, and folk art sales and other events.

As a 501(c)(3), FOFA does not provide direct financial support to any individual or family, but works through existing organizations (such as the State Museum of Popular Art of Oaxaca) to identify and develop our projects.

FOFA was formed in 2007 by a group of American writers, art historians, educators, gallery owners and collectors, led by Arden Aibel Rothstein. The group was united by a common concern for the protection and promotion of Oaxaca’s indigenous folk art traditions. In recent decades, these traditions have faced an uncertain future, with increasing numbers of young Oaxacans seeking more stable livelihoods and migrating from their villages to urban settings. Since FOFA’s founding, our longstanding relationships with many of the area’s folk artists have enabled us to identify specific projects that have proved to be essential and effective. Our U.S. members’ frequent visits to the area, along with our Oaxaca-based senior staff and colleagues, permit us to oversee project development and administration.

FOFA’s Board of Directors closely collaborates with Maestro Carlomagno Pedro Martínez, an internationally–known Oaxacan ceramicist and graphic artist, who has served as Director of the State Museum of Popular Art of Oaxaca (MEAPO) since its inauguration in 2004. Carlomagno has been instrumental in promoting the artistic work of his fellow creators of popular art.