wearable art

Guatemalan artisan Elias García offers this wreath that celebrates the tradition of quitapenas, or worry dolls. Perfect for the holidays, this wreath features an array of decorative quitapenas dolls wearing colorful clothing that is handwoven from cotton on the floor loom. They are arranged into a romantic heart shape.

Charming and elegant, a delightful Maria doll wearing a red dress and bows in her hair decorates this ceramic plaque from Mexico. Maria Isabel Cruz creates the piece, crafted using the dry rope technique, in which a wax mixture made of magnesium oxide and fat are applied to the outlines of the image or motif prior to glazing. The wax mixture creates a barrier that keeps the different fill colors in the design separate during firing, before burning off to reveal the blackened ceramic beneath.

The charming doll originated in Mexico City when many Otomi and Mazahua people migrated to the capital in the 1970s. Due to their unique traditional clothing, the women became known as "Marias." An educational program was established for them and artist Diego Rivera's daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marin, encouraged crafting these popular rag dolls as a way to generate income in the 1980s. Artisan women took the idea home to their Mazahua and Otomi towns and the dolls became popular throughout Mexico and abroad.

Guatemalan artisan Elias García offers this wreath that celebrates the tradition of quitapenas, or worry dolls. Perfect for the holidays, this wreath features an array of decorative quitapenas dolls wearing colorful clothing that is handwoven from cotton on the floor loom.

Inspired by Mexico's traditional Maria dolls, Maria Isabel Cruz creates this ceramic wall plaque. It depicts a lovely doll, realized in a variety of colors against a red background. The artisan works in the centuries-old tradition known as the dry rope technique, in which a wax mixture made of magnesium oxide and fat are applied to the outlines of the image or motif prior to glazing. The wax mixture creates a barrier that keeps the different fill colors in the design separate during firing, before burning off to reveal the blackened ceramic beneath. A length of nylon cord on the back provides for easy hanging.

The charming doll originated in Mexico City when many Otomi and Mazahua people migrated to the capital in the 1970s. Due to their unique traditional clothing, the women became known as "Marias." An educational program was established for them and artist Diego Rivera's daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marin, encouraged crafting these popular rag dolls as a way to generate income in the 1980s. Artisan women took the idea home to their Mazahua and Otomi towns and the dolls became popular throughout Mexico and abroad.

This charming wall cross from the Contreras Family is made of ceramic and painted by hand in the time-honored majolica style. The cross features a dainty folk art Maria doll in colorful costume against a background of emerald green.

The charming doll originated in Mexico City when many Otomi and Mazahua people migrated to the capital in the 1970s. Due to their unique traditional clothing, the women became known as "Marias." An educational program was established for them and artist Diego Rivera's daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marin, encouraged crafting these popular rag dolls as a way to generate income in the 1980s. Artisan women took the idea home to their Mazahua and Otomi towns and the dolls became popular throughout Mexico and abroad.

These adorable dolls are here to bring some love into your home. Artisan Elias Garcia arranges them in a heart-shaped frame covered with colorful hand-loomed fabric and finished with a wooden sign reading "Love". Each doll is handmade by Elias's sister, Aura, and she dresses each one in a unique handwoven dress. Quitapenas or "worry dolls" represent Ixmucane, a princess who was gifted with infinite wisdom. Children are instructed to confide all of their worries to their quitapenas and then place them underneath their pillow at night. The dolls will impart their wisdom to them while they sleep and in the morning they'll wake up knowing what to do.

By Elias Garcia, this delightful diamond-shaped wreath carries a message — "Inspire." He covers it with handloomed Guatemalan textiles and adorns it with diminutive worry dolls in traditional dress, crafted by his sister of the Lopez Garcia family.

According to Maya legend, the sun god gave princess Ixmucane the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucane's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. Many people whisper to the dolls, then place them under their pillows at night, hoping that the doll will provide a solution as they sleep.

By Elias Garcia, this charming wreath carries a message — "Be Happy Always." He covers it with handloomed Guatemalan textiles and adorns it with diminutive worry dolls who wear red clown noses. The dolls are crafted by his sister of the Lopez Garcia family.

According to Maya legend, the sun god gave princess Ixmucane the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucane's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. Many people whisper to the dolls, then place them under their pillows at night, hoping that the doll will provide a solution as they sleep.

These adorable dolls are here to help you stay grateful and worry-free. Artisan Elias Garcia arranges them in a circular frame covered with colorful hand-loomed fabric and finished with a wooden sign reading "Thank You God". Each worry doll is handmade by Elias's sister, Aura, and she dresses each one in a unique handwoven dress. Quitapenas or "worry dolls" represent Ixmucane, a princess who was gifted with infinite wisdom. Children are instructed to confide all of their worries to their quitapenas and then place them underneath their pillow at night. The dolls will impart their wisdom to them while they sleep and in the morning they'll wake up knowing what to do.

Blue rhombus motifs adorn the surface of this elegant wall cross, featuring a four-petaled flower in the center. Mexican artisan Pedro Alba crafts the ceramic wall cross featuring a hand-painted design resembling the legendary talavera tradition.

Flying on her colorful wings, a woman in a red and pink dress cradles a dove under her arm. Mexican artisan Maria Isabel Cruz creates this piece of ceramic wall art, which is made using the centuries-old dry rope technique, in which a wax mixture made of magnesium oxide and fat are applied to the outlines of the image or motif prior to glazing. The wax mixture creates a barrier that keeps the different fill colors in the design separate during firing, before burning off to reveal the blackened ceramic beneath. A length of nylon cord on the back provides for easy hanging.