The Aguilar sisters, from left to right, Irene, Conception, Josefina and Guillermina.
Guillermina, Josefina, Conception and Irene round out the four Aguilar sisters, all living in the town of Ocotlán de Morales in the state of Oaxaca. Living legends in their own right, they are now passing the torch to the next generation of creative ceramists hailing from Oaxaca. Renowned and exhibited worldwide, the sisters have reached their acclaim by steadfast devotion to refining their work and their ability to transform their visions into amazing three-dimensional creations.
Workshop of Irene Aguilar
The sisters began their life’s work at the foot of their mother, initially making apaxtels (basins) and braseros (incense burners) for Day of the Dead altars, and candle holders for local churches. Like most Oaxacan artists, her inspiration came in the form of animals and angels and over the years They each have their own studios Ocotlán de Morales and each have expanded the breadth of their work, enough to have created an international following for their highly decorated figurative ceramic pieces
Though their work is similar by a shared sense of culture, place and identity as women, each Aguilar sister has her own unique style, source of inspiration and approach to her craft. Daily life and flights of fancy, spiritual devotions and earthly concerns all find expressions in their finely crafted and beautifully colored ceramic marvels.
For these four women, their artistry in clay has been a vital means of self-expression and also an important means of economic survival in the harsh world of Oaxacan poverty. Their lives, and now the lives of their children, revolve around abundant talent and artistic achievement.
Aside from the Mexican and global economic problems, they continue to create their amazing works in spite of rising costs of firewood, clay and paints. The recent hit in the tourism trade due to drug violence (whether warranted or not) have brought additional economic hardship to the sisters. We are so pleased to have met Aguilar sisters and even more pleased to have their works here.
Selected works of Guillermina Aguilar, more images coming.
