The National Museum of Mexican Art presents the annual Festival del Arte Popular. Artisans come from all corners of Mexico to participate in this festival celebrating Mexico’s one-of-a-kind arte popular. Each artist brings unique techniques and folk artwork, and all bring the same passion for Mexico’s rich folk-art traditions. Meet some of Mexico’s finest folk artists, watch live demonstrations, and get an early start on holiday shopping.

Learn more about the wonderful artists visiting this year:

• Daniel Paredes & Maria Fernanda Rosales Ruiz (Puebla), create delicate and whimsical Day of the Dead figures, nichos, and more, all hand built out of clay. Tradition is at the heart of their work, having learned techniques from Paredes’ parents Miguel and Lilia Paredes, the couple make their pieces unique with their own touches.
• Jacobo Ángeles Ojeda (Oaxaca), comes from the San Martín Tilcajete village famously known for its carvers and alebrije figures. Ángeles Ojeda’s alebriije figures of various fantastic animals are elaborately decorated in the Mixteca-Zapotec tradition and can take up to a year and a half to complete.
• Audias & Mariana Roldan (Guerrero), are lifelong practitioners of the incredible craft of Papel Amate painting. Continuing the tradition of their ancestors, the couple paint incredible scenes of nature and country life over Amate parchment. Their style of painting is known as “Las historias del pueblo,” or “The stories of our town.”
• Pedro Montaño Lorenzo (Oaxaca), learned from his father how to weave wool rugs at the young age of 11 years old, when he began to understand how the warp and weft thread technique works. His complex designs use different patterns, sizes and colors to represent life and natural elements such as: air, fire, water and earth, as well as the history of his ancestors as way to keep his roots alive.
• Pascuala Vázquez (Chiapas), comes from a family of weavers that used a backstrap loom. She learned at the young age of 8 years old and developed her skills and style. Her vibrant textiles such as blouses and rebozos are all made with traditional techniques passed down to her through her family.
• Alejandra Nuñez Guevara (Puebla), comes from a family that has been making talavera pottery since the 1800’s. Hers and her family’s handmade talavera pieces have been displayed internationally. The creation of her signature talavera pieces like plates, pitchers, and pots is a detailed process and Nuñez Guevara prides herself in seeing every item from start to finish.

Plus, visit the Tienda Tzintzutzan to purchase Sugar Skulls handmade by Jose Emilio Quintana (Puebla).

Members of the National Museum of Mexican Art receive a 15% discount on purchases made at the Folk Art Festival. Become a Member today.