feature sculpture

Feathers fan outward like petals, framing the face of Quetzalcoatl. Working in clay, artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association depict the "plumed serpent" of Mesoamerican myth and legend. Tenuous color suggests the polychrome splendor of the original piece, found in the Temple of Teotihuacan and dating from the Classic Period (100 to 800 AD). This exquisite sculpture faithfully replicates the original.

Viewed as a lucky charm by ancient Asian cultures and sailors alike, the seahorse makes a statement of marine elegance as a wall sculpture from Thailand. Somyot Sawasdee crafts the sculpture by hand recycling paper, expertly detailing the seahorse's unique body. The Thai artisan finishes the wall sculpture with green and gold paint, creating the illusion of an aged bronze piece. Features a hook on the back.

Somyot Sawasdee celebrates love with this inspired heart-shaped sculpture. His design of the romantic panel details the faces of two people made strong by their union. Sawasdee sculpts the expressive wall sculpture by hand by recycling paper with cement. The Thai artist finishes the wall sculpture with green and gold paint, creating the illusion of an aged bronze piece. Features a hook on the back.

Symbol of natural beauty as well as new beginnings, a blossoming frangipani becomes an inspired wall sculpture. Thailand's Somyot Sawasdee crafts the magnificent sculpture by hand with recycled paper and cement, expertly detailing the petals. He finishes the wall sculpture with green and gold paint, creating the illusion of an aged bronze piece. The sculpture features a hook on the back.

Resembling a treasure from an ancient temple, this wall sculpture of a young Buddha is by Somyot Sawasdee. The Thai artist finishes the wall sculpture with green and gold paint, creating the illusion of an aged bronze piece. Features a hook on the back.

Somyot Sawasdee creates the illusion of an antique sculpture of Lord Ganesha. Sitting legs crossed, Ganesha has his trunk in a bowl of his favorite dessert. The Thai artist finishes the recycled paper wall sculpture with green and gold paint, creating the illusion of an aged bronze piece. The sculpture features a hook on the back.

Mexico City saw the beginning of a stunning art style in 1930. After a feverish dream full of extraordinary creatures, Pedro Linares started to create colorful sculptures called alebrijes. Since that day, many have continued Pedro's legacy, making superb works such as this steel wall art design by Alejandro de Esesarte.

"I was drawing an alebrije-like figure, when a little girl came to see what I was doing and joyfully shouted, 'alegrijes!' She misspelled 'alebrijes,' and we all laughed," he recalls.

"Later in the day, it hit me — the little girl didn't make a mistake. Because by changing a single letter, she gave me the new name for my line of alebrijes. They will be called alegrijes.

"Alegre' means means 'joy.' Alegrijes — the ones who bring joy." Using a colorful palette, the artisan crafts a mystic beast, featuring a feathered parrot head, human-like limbs and a fish body.