oaxaca arts and crafts

This unique buffalo sculpture is the design of Mexican artists Jesus and Roxana Hernandez. Hand crafted from copal wood and hand painted in colorful shades such as blue, green, and purple, this buffalo is decorated with the traditional and detailed motifs that distinguish alebrije artwork.

As alebrijes swim through the subconscious of the artisan's imagination, it seems fitting that they have flippers as this multicolored hand carved sea turtle does. Made using copal wood, this alebrije figurine by artisans Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of Oaxaca, Mexico, has a shell in glorious shades of green, purple, lavender, and brown; the creative geometric designs are patiently painted by hand. Pink flippers and a blue head complete the marine tortoise.

It is said that Oaxaca's alebrije tradition descends directly from Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became seriously ill and fell into a sort of coma. While he was unconscious, he had a most fantastic dream. He was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije, and when Linares woke up, he recreated these figures in vivid colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and eventually influenced artisans in the state of Oaxaca who decided to craft alebrijes using traditional wood carving methods and according to that region's world vision.

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 yellow and black. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

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.

Taking a walk, a charming little cat brings the magnificence of Mexican folk art to your home. Zeny and Reyna hand-carve this alebrije figurine of copal wood, hand-painting the cat with intricate and colorful motifs. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Alebrijes are a fairly recent Mexican art form, attributed to Pedro Linares. Unconscious due to illness in 1936, he was presumed near death and yet his dreams were extremely vivid. He tells of a place where all was peaceful and quiet until all of a sudden there appeared a lion with an eagle's head, a rooster with bull's horns and a donkey with butterfly wings. They kept screeching "alebrije, alebrije!" and Pedro began running away. He encountered a man who told him it was not yet his time to be there are and he should continue running towards the exit. In this dream Pedro climbed out of a window and regained consciousness.

A delightful piece of decor, this alebrije cricket statuette is painted in bright shades of yellow and red. Mexican artisans Pablo and Lucy Mendez handcraft the cricket from copal wood. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

It is said that Oaxaca's alebrije tradition descends directly from Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became seriously ill and fell into a sort of coma. While he was unconscious, he had a most fantastic dream. He was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije, and when Linares woke up, he recreated these figures in vivid colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes . His work became famous and eventually influenced artisans in the state of Oaxaca who decided to craft alebrijes using traditional wood carving methods and according to that region's world vision.

Working in the traditional style of traditional folk art alebrijes, Mexican duo Pablo and Lucy Mendez create this charming cat figurine. The cat is carved of copal wood, its black body hand-painted with intricate floral motifs and dots in fiery tones of orange.

Alebrijes are a fairly recent Mexican art form, attributed to Pedro Linares. Unconscious due to illness in 1936, he was presumed near death and yet his dreams were extremely vivid. He tells of a place where all was peaceful and quiet until all of a sudden there appeared a lion with an eagle's head, a rooster with bull's horns and a donkey with butterfly wings. They kept screeching "alebrije, alebrije!" and Pedro began running away. He encountered a man who told him it was not yet his time to be there are and he should continue running towards the exit. In this dream Pedro climbed out of a window and regained consciousness.

Adorned with cheerful artistry, this purple and pink snail makes its way from the magical lands of Oaxaca. "The snail symbolizes life that starts and ends in a spiral," believe Zeny and Reyna. After carving the copal wood alebrije, they use the tip of a maguey leaf to paint the florid patterns.

Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Taking a walk, a nocturnal little cat brings the magnificence of Mexican folk art to your home. Zeny and Reyna hand-carve this alebrije figurine of copal wood, hand-painting the black cat with vibrantly colored intricate motifs. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Alebrijes are a fairly recent Mexican art form, attributed to Pedro Linares. Unconscious due to illness in 1936, he was presumed near death and yet his dreams were extremely vivid. He tells of a place where all was peaceful and quiet until all of a sudden there appeared a lion with an eagle's head, a rooster with bull's horns and a donkey with butterfly wings. They kept screeching "alebrije, alebrije!" and Pedro began running away. He encountered a man who told him it was not yet his time to be there are and he should continue running towards the exit. In this dream Pedro climbed out of a window and regained consciousness.

"Feeling proud of my Mexican roots and wishing to raise consciousness regarding Mexico's beautiful endemic animals in danger of extinction, I designed this series of 10 coloring postcards. They are inspired by the multicolored alebrije sculptures of Oaxaca representing magical and fantastical creatures with wings and antennae," explains Alejandra Aceves. This set of postcards includes: a grey wolf, a West Indian manatee, an axolotl fish (Mexican salamander), a red macaw, an armadillo, a tapir, a loggerhead turtle, a pronghorn, a jaguar, and a California Gulf porpoise.

The set of 10 postcards arrives in an acrylic box with information about Aceves' project. Inspired by the illness she lives with, she realized that the symptoms diminished when she concentrated on drawing. Her wish is for others to enjoy being able to relax while coloring her postcards.