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A vibrant ensemble of Peruvian custom, this traditional retablo is transformed into an exceptional picture frame by Alejandro Chávez. Retablos originally featured religious passages and now Chavez uses this art form to showcase Peruvian traditions as in the lower panel he recreates the colorful revelry of an Andean feast. The side panels flanking the photograph depict quotidian scenes and the upper panel stages the collection of the tuna, a fruit of enticing flavor that grows on the prickly pear cactus. Chavez handcrafts this piece from wood and fills it with myriad personages well defined and detailed.

Led to Bethlehem by a star in the east, the Three Kings bring precious gifts to the Christ Child. Mary and Joseph stand on either side as a cow and donkey kneel beside the manger. This colorful box depicts the Epiphany from the Christmas story in the Gospel of Matthew. Alejandro Chávez crafts a traditional Ayacucho-style retablo, a diorama housed in a colorful wood box. The images are modeled of ceramic and painted by hand, and the box closes with a leather latch.

This colorful box depicts the first Christmas. Alejandro Chávez crafts a traditional retablo (diorama) in the regional style of Ayacucho. The Holy Family and the three kings are modeled of clay and painted by hand. Beneath them, villagers harvest the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus.

Painted by hand with blue floral motifs, the doors of this wood retablo open to reveal the mother Mary. Guarding the gateway to the town of Otuzco, this devotion of Mary is known as "Virgin of La Puerta." She is crafted from ceramic, her regal clothes diligently painted by hand in tones of gold and red. A sign underneath her reads Virgen de la Puerta, or "Virgin of La Puerta" in Spanish.

Alejandro Chávez crafts a mirror frame rooted in Andean tradition with four different vignettes. At the top, people harvest tunas, the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus. To the left, merchants offer warm blankets in a market stall and to the right they sell handcrafted masks. Used during the Carnival celebrations preceding Lent, the masks appear in an astonishing array of animals, human and fantasy faces. Along the bottom, dancers perform the Scissors Dance. Known as retablos, these traditional dioramas feature figures carefully molded from ceramic plaster and painted by hand.

This extraordinary retablo designed by Peru’s Jose Ramos beautifully captures the essence of true love that transcends life and goes on even in the afterlife. In the unique diorama, two skeletons joyfully toast to their unbreakable bond while holding a red heart that symbolizes their eternal connection. Influenced by the Day of the Dead, this decorative accent is handcrafted from black walnut wood and showcases hand-painted ceramic figurines that are carefully arranged within. The doors, filled with elaborate floral and leaf designs, can be displayed either opened or closed, adding versatility to this captivating creation.