Oaxaca, Mexico
MEET Jose
A Love Story in Clay
“I remember her face with my hands.”
José García creates each piece from memory, shaping the features of his wife, Teresita, with remarkable tenderness. The loss of his sight never dimmed his imagination. Instead, it brought him closer to the clay, where touch replaced vision. His sculptures capture the quiet devotion between them, each curve and line shaped by a lifetime of love. Through his hands, their story becomes something timeless — a reminder of loyalty, creativity and the beauty of remembering someone by heart.
Pottery by Jose Garcia
Where Imagination Lives
"My mother told me the most beautiful women were mermaids."
Guided by stories from his childhood, José blends the real and the mythical into one world. Many of his pieces merge Teresita’s face with the graceful tail of a mermaid, honouring the tales that shaped his early years. For José, clay is freedom — a place where memory, folklore and affection exist together. His work feels playful yet deeply soulful, carrying the magic of imagination and the comfort found in creating what cannot be seen but is still profoundly known.
Crafted Through Devotion
“Her mole… I always add her mole.”
José’s work is rooted in ritual and care. He sculpts in silence, guided by touch, tracing familiar contours that are etched into his memory. The distinctive details he includes — such as Teresita’s small mole — turn each piece into a portrait of love and presence. His studio, filled with red clay and gentle routine, is a space where craft becomes companionship. These pieces are not just decorations; they are symbols of resilience, affection and the extraordinary world José continues to build with his hands.
artisan journal
HANDS THAT SEE: A MEXICAN LOVE STORY
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