intricate carving

By Mexican artisan Teresita Gonzalez, this charming alebrije tortoise offers guidance to those in the spirit world. The sculpture is carved of cedar wood, painted by hand with intricate designs to feature a blue color.

Unleash the spirit of Mexico in your home with this captivating Talavera-style coyote sculpture. Created by Ivan Martinez, this ceramic marvel boasts intricately hand-painted floral and leaf motifs that dance across the white and blue surface, breathing life into any room. Make this delightful sculpture the star of your decor and watch your favorite spot come alive with vibrant Mexican charm.

Infuse your decor with a dash of whimsy through this adorable owl figurine by Guatemalan artisan Jose Arriola. Handcrafted from ceramic using traditional Mayan techniques, its lively blue color exudes a captivating allure. The intricate hand-painted details breathe life into the owl, infusing any space with color and warmth.

Working with gemstones, artisans from Joias do Rio craft a petite and precious sculpture. They depict the blue morpho butterfly of the Amazon region, one of the largest butterflies in the world. Cool blue sodalite with its intricate white veins forms the wings while the slender body is silvery brass. The elegant creature alights on a base of natural, uncut amethyst.

Intricate designs inspired by traditional Zapotec grecas or spirals flourish across this magnificent alebrije-style owl sculpture, where traditional hand-painting techniques transform eco-conscious copal wood into a masterpiece of folk art. The vibrant colors and sacred motifs in artisans Eugenia and Roberto Sosa’s eye-catching figurine create a visual symphony that honors centuries of cultural tradition while their sustainable branch-harvesting practices protect the copal trees for future artistic generations. This extraordinary piece captures the essence of authentic Mexican artistry through responsible craftsmanship.

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.

Drawing inspiration from everything that surrounds them, Mexican duo Pablo and Lucy Mendez work together to carry on the style of traditional alebrije sculptures. They give good luck wishes with this charming cricket, handcrafted of copal wood with various intricate parts that assemble together. The cricket is finished with a hand-painted design in tones of blue and purple. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Elevate the ambiance of your environment with the enchanting charm of this dynamic alebrije figurine featuring a colorful depiction of a charming hen that pays homage to the timeless artistry of Mexican handicrafts. Hand-carved with precision from copal wood and adorned with intricate hand-painted details by artisans Yuli and Alan Canseco, this accessory with a palette of azure, sunrise and imperial purple as the predominant colors guarantees to enliven any space and imbue it with cultural significance.

Within a floral paradise, two birds the sun is depicted in this elegant and intricate relief panel from Guatemala. Chico Mendoza hand-carves this intricate relief from pinewood, perfect for display anywhere in your home.

A myriad shades of blue conjure a cool and soothing universe in this elegant nierika, or votive beadwork painting by Kupihaute. Scorpions scuttle purposefully around the center of the composition, which takes the shape of a flower with five wide petals.

The artist, who writes fluently in the Huichol, Nahuatl and English languages, talks about this work in his own words. "From the focal center of the nierika, the precious flower arises in spiral movement as the culminating expression of the deepest roots. The blossom is keeping in its entrails the seed that will disseminate the power of creative energy. This is symbolized by the scorpions that, in their wonderful body symmetry, show the essence of the power itself, since any imbalance in its mating dance, any missing the target, will cause its own poisoning and thus its own death. Therefore the symbol of cosmos, of order is shown in their mouths and the tails."

The intricate images are formed with tiny seed beads. Kupihuate patiently places them one at a time with a needle made of abalone shell onto a huanacaxtle wood backing. Beeswax is used instead of glue.

The process is totally spontaneous, with no previous sketch or design. It is guided by the artist's unconscious to tell the stories that remain in our collective ancestral memory. He signs his work with the symbol of a butterfly on the reverse side of the nierika.

Exemplifying strength, grace and love, there is perhaps no symbol more beautiful than a woman caring for her young child. Joseph Boateng creates a relief panel depicting a Ghanaian woman with her child on her back. Her traditional dress is hand-painted in cheerful blue and red, and other details like her intricately-braided hair are carved with expert precision. The artisan works in seasoned sese wood.