oaxacan artists

This black and turquoise mouse figure is a magical alebrije, an animal wood carving painted in fantastic colors. He is named after another fantasy creature, the Ratoncito Pérez, Mexico's answer to the tooth fairy. He is created and signed by artists Gerardo and Teresa Ojeda of Oaxaca, Mexico. The tail detaches for safe shipping.

Artisans Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of Mexico handcraft this charming coyote alebrije figurine. Painted in colorful shades such as turquoise and chartreuse, the copal wood coyote takes a howling pose. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

The alebrije tradition started with Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he fell into a coma due to serious illness. While he was unconscious, he dreamed he was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije. Upon recovering, Linares recreated these figures in bright colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and was one of the main influences of artisans in the state of Oaxaca who began crafting alebrijes of their own using traditional wood carving methods.

Evoking the sky at dawn, light teal stripes flow across an amethyst-colored background. Colorful cotton is woven on a backstrap loom to become an attractive pair of face masks with unique handwoven textures. Artisans from Creative Hands of Oaxaca craft the contoured masks with elastic bands to stretch around the head. They are double-layered and are both washable and reusable.

Inspired by the exquisite embroidered flowers adorning Oaxaca's traditional textiles, Mexican artisans Pablo and Lucy Mendez create a gorgeous copal wood ornament that captures the region's culture and festive aura in one colorful sphere. This time, the team uses a palette of turquoise and black hues to hand-paint each floral detail, allowing for a refreshing vibe. As the final touch, a lovely tassel and beads dance at the bottom of the design.

In this slightly more modern interpretation of traditional alebrije folk art, a stretching turquoise cat is covered with stripes, dots and spirals. Artisans Pablo and Lucy Mendez of Oaxaca carve the sculpture by hand from copal wood and paint it in meticulous detail. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his fevered dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all ran at him, shouting "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache.

Artisan Carlos Mendez in Mexico crafts this pretty box from copal wood and paints it by hand in the style of Oaxacan alebrije sculptures. The narrow box is just right for storing jewelry and other small treasures.

This captivating copal wood alebrije sculpture of a majestic bull is exquisitely crafted by skilled artisans, Zeny and Reyna. Its vibrant colors, including shades of blue and purple, breathe life into the intricately painted fish adorning the bull's back. This eye-catching piece not only embodies the rich tradition of Mexican folk art but also serves as a mesmerizing symbol of imagination and creativity, destined to become a cherished centerpiece in your home.