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Alejandro Chavez

Alejandro Chávez was born in the city of Lima on January 30, 1956. He specializes in the creations of retablos, a kind of reverent diorama-altar typical of the Ayacucho region of Peru. He learned this technique as a boy in school, when he was 17 years old and living in Ayacucho, where his parents moved when he was just 2 years old.

When Chávez returned to the capital he began working in the studio of Angel Castro, a master artisan. Here he refined his techniques in the creation of retablos, eagerly learning the art from his teacher. Later, Chávez formed his own workshop after the death of Castro and began to give shape to his art. The customs and traditions of the Andean people emerge in every piece.

Today Chávez is part of an association of artisans who participate in national artesania fairs. In every one of his works can be found the labors of his wife, who molds the characters, as well as the efforts of his nieces and nephews, to whom he is currently teaching this art.