Meet the Artisan
Oaxaca, Mexico
Francisco
Francisco learned the magic of Oaxacan mud when he was just a child and works with skills that have been handed down for generations. Returning to his hometown in Oaxaca after a decade away, he followed the path of his ancestors and began creating pottery using the techniques and methods he inherited.
But Francisco adds a twist by introducing unusual natural elements to his work, taking it to the next level. The sap and leaves of organic copal and tobacco, which he grows by hand, are added to the clay to achieve some of his signature colours.
Kilns dotted along the property provide the ability to fire his work on the land he lives on and works on. His open-air studio is his house, where he lives with his family. He uses natural elements from his land, along with natural elements sourced from a local mine, to create a range of earthy colours from cream to green and his signature smoky black.