Asean Handicraft Promotion And Development Association Indonesia/Apparel, Sponsored Artists Breathtaking Fatumnasi textiles express cultural vibrancy Textiles are important expressions of culture and status in Indonesia and the people of West Timor produce an extensive variety. The traditional textiles of the […]

Mario Calderón Venezuela/Sculpture Masterful wooden toys speak to simpler handcrafted times Mario Calderon is a musician, toy collector, and one of the most celebrated handcrafted toymakers in Venezuela. For more than 30 years he has been crafting magical toys of […]

Shavkiddin Kamalov Uzbekistan/Metal Elaborate and rich designs of ancient knives Shavkiddin Kamalov lives and works in the ancient city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where, since childhood, he learned his family’s historic occupation of blacksmithing. In addition to his bustling workshop, Shavkiddin, […]

Rushana Burkhanova Uzbekistan/Rugs Meticulously designed and handcrafted rugs Master rug designer Rushana Burkhanova’s name is distinguished among fine textile artists in the famed Bukhara region of Uzbekistan. She became interested in carpet-weaving as a young child and when she finished […]

Abdulla Narzullaev Uzbekistan/Ceramics Ceramics master sharing his craft with the world Gijduvan ceramic pottery began in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, the 3rd century AD and is renowned for its distinct floral patterns in green, brown, and blue. Abdulla Narzullaev is a 6th […]

Ana de Prado Uruguay/Apparel The panoramic beauty of the handmade Uruguay’s not-for-profit artist collective Manos del Uruguay is organized into small cooperatives based in the rural villages where the artisans live and work. Manos, which was founded in 1968, was […]

ROOTS of South Sudan South Sudan/Apparel, Basketry, Beaded Jewelry, Sculpture Beading South Sudan with the World After decades of war, South Sudan became the world’s newest nation in 2011. The Roots Project employs more than 60 women from nearly twenty […]

Mathapelo Ngaka South Africa/Beaded Jewelry Making an impact in the modern world through tradition Mathapelo Ngaka, one of the original founders of Monkeybiz, helped create the organization to empower women to become financially independent through the ancient tradition of African […]

Sita Lama Sherpa & Sandeep Pokhrel Nepal/Rugs Preserving centuries-old cultural narratives of the Yangma people One of the premiere members of the Yangma Traditional Weavers Cooperative of Olangchung, Nepal, Sita Lama Sherpa began spinning and weaving with her mother in […]

Zahor el Kabach & Fadma Chafique Morocco/Apparel Tender buttons The small city of Khenifra is located in the mountains of Mediterranean Atlas. Its inhabitants depend on traditional industries and handicrafts such as weaving, wood carving, and pottery. Women, in particular, […]

Pedro Ortega Lozano Mexico/Painting & Drawing Cut-paper retablos detail the significance of faith Retablos have a long history in Latin American cultures and typically are displayed either in domestic or church settings as treasured reminders of sacred figures. Meticulously rendered […]

Octavio Esteban Reyes Mexico/Ceramics, Sculpture Religious allegory as humorous as it is beautiful Octavio Esteban Reyes learned diablito, the “little devil” art of his native Ocumicho, Michoacan, from his family. The dragons, drunks, mermaids, gods, and demons frequently portrayed in […]

Nancy Barragan Bautista Mexico/Metal Jewelry Oaxacan filigree jewelry that continues to inspire Oaxacan filigree silver jewelry is distinctive for its incredibly delicate and ornate design, which places this regional Mexican art form in its own totally unique, widely celebrated category. […]

Ock Pop Tok Laos/Apparel, Textiles for Home Telling the story of Laos through textiles Ock Pop Tok makes items as lyrical and fun as its name, but the mission is serious: everything the group produces is made by women, with […]

Fariza Sheisheeva & Svetlana Sheisheeva Kyrgyzstan/Textiles for Home Petroglyph visions masterfully embroidered Sisters Svetlana and Fariza Sheisheyeva started the Kyrgyzstan-based textile collective Art Group Saima to reflect ancient traditions and a distinctive style of weaving. Growing up in a village […]

Shanta Bhuriya, Bhuribai Bariya, Ladobai Tahed India/Painting & Drawing Reviving a centuries-old art form The Bhil tribe, native to western and central India, is one of India’s largest communities. Artisans from the tribe are known for Bhil art, a contemporary […]

Kashmir Loom Company India/Apparel Modern soul of the famously beautiful shawls from Kashmir Valley During her nearly three decades in India, Jenny Housego, textile historian, designer, and co-founder of the Kashmir Loom Company, has ventured across the country to sit […]

Durgabai Vyam, Sarita Dhurve, Rejendra Shyam & Raju Maravi India/Painting & Drawing Storytelling through paint and brush strokes Durgabai Vyam is one of the foremost female artists in Bhopal, central India, creating art in the tribal Gond traditional. She was […]

Sandor Pal Hungary/Metal Jewelry A mastery of inner harmony and exquisite jewelry The extravagantly designed, enchantingly beautiful work of Budapest, Hungary-based Sándor Pál is truly in its own category. With his glittering, shimmery enamel jewelry, Sándor proves to be an […]

Julio Barbon Davis Cuba/Painting & Drawing Connecting universally to traditional Cuban themes Some artists, like Cienfuegos, Cuba-based painter Julio Barbon, seem to have been born to make art. He remembers being a small boy and wanting to draw and sketch. […]

Cenia Gutierrez Alfonso Cuba/Painting & Drawing Mystical imagery paints Cuban dreams Cenia began painting as a small child and continues today to create folk paintings and ink drawings in Cienfuegos, Cuba. She studied the work of master painters from her […]

Tomasa Diaz Colombia/Rugs Palma estera continues to communicate the voice of Chimichagua Asociación de Artesanos de Chimichagua was born in 1995 in a region of northern Colombia that nudges up against the Caribbean Sea. Named after the town of Chimichagua, […]

Zhou Xingshi China/Apparel, Metal Jewelry Batik as mother tongue for the Miao Zhou Xingshi is from a small farming village in Huishui County, Guizhou, home to the Buyi people. Deeply influenced by the Buyi traditional handcrafts of her family, Zhou […]

Rangina Hamidi Afghanistan/Apparel Caretakers of one of the world’s finest embroidery techniques Kandahar Treasure is a cooperative of embroiderers which promotes a unique and traditional art form to create income sources for women in Afghanistan. The traditional fine needle embroidery […]

Bakhtiyor Nazirov & Diyorbek Nazirov Uzbekistan/Ceramics, Sponsored Artists A confluence of material, history, and culture in the red clay of Rishtan Rishtan ceramic dishes have long been prized by Uzbek families, used for everyday meals and tea, as well as […]

Aziz Murtazaev, Crafts Studio IkatUz Uzbekistan/Apparel, Textiles for Home Traditional ikat meets inspired contemporary design The word ikat is internationally used for the process of resist dyeing threads before weaving. “Abrband” is the Uzbek term for this process, meaning “tying […]

Roman Zilinko Ukraine/Painting & Drawing, Sponsored Artists Ukraine’s gift of creative inheritance “My artworks continue the tradition of the Ukrainian icon painting of the Carpathian region, which flourished in the 16th and 19th centuries,” explains artist Roman Zilinko. Icon painting […]

Ivan Bobkov Ukraine/Ceramics, Sponsored Artists Discovering unexpected beauty in Ukrainian clay The art of Master potter and ceramicists Ivan Boibkov represents “the unity of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine–Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians.” Products, made of terra cotta or Ukrainian clay, […]

Olinda Silvano Inuma de Arias Peru/Sponsored Artists, Textiles for Home Embracing the natural and spiritual world into design Kené is an ancient art representing nature and the living culture of the Shipibo-Konibo people of the Amazon basin. “Kené means ‘designs’ […]

Abel Zevallos Montes Peru/Apparel, Textiles for Home Inspiring the younger generation with traditional techniques and an eye towards the future Makiarte is a collaboration between a group of friends and artists to use traditional designs, crafts, and culture of Peru […]

Oaxifornia Mexico/Basketry, Ceramics, Metal Jewelry Collaboration crossing boundaries rooted deeply in tradition Oaxifornia objects are collaborations between art and design students and professionals and craft artists in Oaxaca, created using play and experimentation as the guiding principles for the final […]

Andrea Velasco Mexico/Apparel, Sponsored Artists Tzotzil craftswomen enter the world stage The Highlands of Chiapas is a region of outstanding cultural richness, its indigenous communities preserving the heritage of their pre-Hispanic ancestors through the traditions of complex embroidery and the […]

Manuel Jerónimo Reyes, José Manuel Jerónimo Ceja, and María Guadalupe Fabián Medina Mexico/Ceramics, Sponsored Artists A powerful new voice among a storied candelabra tradition Santa Fe de la Laguna is a small community in Michoacán known as a center of […]

Manuel David Reyes Ramirez and Maricela Gomez Lopez Mexico/Ceramics, Sponsored Artists Love and livelihood sculpted in clay Manuel David Reyes Ramirez and Maricela Gomez Lopez met in Cuernavaca where Manuel was working for the artist Juan Soriano and Maricela was […]

The Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts Mexico/Beaded Jewelry, Sponsored Artists The voice of Wixarika people in every bead The Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts, known in Mexico as the “Centro Indígena Huichol,” was founded […]

Francisco Javier Sanchez Rios Mexico/Metal Jewelry, Sponsored Artists The heart of a Mexican family bound in filigree One day while visiting the artisan development school in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Francisco Javier Sanchez Rios and his wife, Maria del Refugio Blanco Lopez, […]

Fernando Nieto Castillo Mexico/Ceramics, Sponsored Artists Making it new: clay continuum in a modern form Fernando Nieto Castillo comes from a traditional family clay workshop San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca. In the 1950s his grandmother, Doña Rosa, invented the shiny finish […]

Colectivo Yolcuu Ñomndaa Tejiendo Resistencia Mexico/Apparel, Sponsored Artists, Textiles for Home A collective sum of a Amuzgas textile collective This group of seven Nnancue Ñomndaa (indigenous Amuzgas) women from the community of Suljaa or Xochistlahuaca, Guerrero, has come together in […]

Bonifacio Vásquez Pacheco and Aurelia Gómez Jiménez Mexico/Apparel, Sponsored Artists Newly found inspiration in the traditional shawls of Tlahuitlotepec Bonifacio Vásquez Pacheco and Aurelia Gómez Jiménez live in Tlahuitlotepec, a small, isolated town in the Mixe region of the mountains […]

Tsuyo Onodera & Maki Aizawa Japan/Apparel, Sponsored Artists Hands gather to create, protect, and sustain community Tsuyo Onodera, a master kimono maker, has been in the kimono industry for fifty years. Together with her daughter, Maki Aizawa, they have been […]

WomenWeave Charitable Trust India/Apparel, Sponsored Artists, Textiles for Home A global platform for ancient handloom weaving In today’s global economy India’s ancient arts of handloom and rural weaving are in jeopardy. Threatened by demographic shifts and economic stresses, young weavers […]

Vanita Chauhan India/Textiles for Home Appliqué’s simple beauty The history of appliqué and patchwork can be traced to women in the native communities of northern Gujarat, India’s westernmost state. There, women of diverse backgrounds all produced large canopies, hangings, and […]

Pachan Premjibhai Siju India/Apparel, Sponsored Artists Weavings as witness to climate change For centuries the weavers of Kutch, the nomadic Rabaris, and the settled Ahirs worked together as a sustainable network of weavers, dyers, and clients. Each ethnic community had […]

Anuradha Kuli India/Apparel, Textiles for Home Award winning textiles debunk stereotypes The hand-woven and naturally dyed textiles that form the basis of the Naturally Anuradha collection of shawls and pillow covers have origins that can be traced back hundreds of […]

Puja Bhargava Kamath India/Metal Jewelry Telling the story of folk art through jewelry In Sanskrit, Lai means ‘the beloved one’. Historically, for an Indian woman, jewelry has been her beloved one–not just for adornment but also as a status symbol […]

Dinesh Vishram Siju India/Apparel, Textiles for Home Redefining the craft of weaving The Meghwal Marwada community practices weaving art in Kutch, a center of traditional craftsmanship in India. These weavers are known as “Vankars”. They originally migrated to Kutch centuries […]

Adil M. Khatri and Zakiya Adil Khatr India/Apparel, Sponsored Artists A bandhani connection of family and tradition Bandhani is a tie-dye technique practiced in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Kutch being best-known as the center of its production. Experts believe the technique […]

Abdul Majid India/Apparel, Sponsored Artists, Textiles for Home Redefining ancient techniques with poetic hands “I am an artist by blood and profession both,” says Abdul Majid, who learned block printing and textile design from his father, Abdul Rashid, their family […]

Gabriel Bien-Aimé Haiti/Sculpture, Sponsored Artists Playful sculpture reveals deeper cultural roots and masterful execution Gabriel Bien-Aimé was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, widely considered the cradle of Haitian cut-out metal sculpture, thanks to artists such as Georges Liautaud. His works portray a […]

Rosario Ratzán Guatemala/Apparel, Sponsored Artists Tzʼutujil Mayan community’s young and inspired voice Rosario Ratzán’s colorful designs and intricate beadwork and embroidery are inspired by her father’s heritage as a respected painter of the Mayan Tzʼutujil community. Ratzán’s mother, a master […]

Eric Adjetey Anang Ghana/Sculpture, Sponsored Artists A maker’s evolution from utility to art Design coffins are an innovation of Kane Kwei, who made the first design coffin in 1951. Originally meant as a palanquin for a chief, it was turned […]

Ethio Sky Ethiopia/Textiles for Home Living Bartsi traditions making communities stronger Bartsi, or “Giving Beauty”, is the tradition of painting huts in decorative patterns, mostly for holidays, by the women of the remote Ari tribe in Ethiopia. They use their […]

Guillermo Estrada Viera Cuba/Painting & Drawing, Sponsored Artists Engraving new life into found objects The work of Guillermo Estrada Viera is a creative combination of two completely unrelated traditions in Cuba: engraving and rations. Engraving has a long history in […]

Clandestina Cuba/Apparel DIY from the heart of Cuba Traditional items such as guayaberas and bags are standards in Cuban culture. Without the same access to new products and materials much of the world enjoys, Cubans have stuck with what works. […]

Leonidas Gutiérrez Colombia/Sponsored Artists, Textiles for Home Handwoven traditions from the Amazon The jigra is an important item for the Koreguaje people of Colombia’s Amazon rainforest. Leonidas Gutiérrez and Artesanías Koreguaje Pairepa–an informal group of community members–create these bags, made […]

Gary González Colombia/Apparel, Basketry, Sponsored Artists Cultural preservation meets cultural relevance The technique of hat weaving by the Wayúu people of northern Colombia has passed for generations from elders to children. Traditionally the hat is worn by Wayúu men and, […]

Huang Changping China/Metal Jewelry, Sponsored Artists Exceptionally crafted silver adornments and traditions continued “Miao minority people are fond of silver wares and both men and women love to adorn themselves with silver accessories,” says master silversmith Huang Changping. As early […]

Mehmet Cetinkaya Gallery Turkey/Apparel, Textiles for Home Ancient embroideries and modern ideas Renowned textile expert and gallerists Mehmet Cetinkaya and his team make textiles with both centuries-old origins and boldly original patterns. As a graduate of the Belgian Royal Academy, where he […]

Fatillo Kendjaev Uzbekistan/Rugs Making traditional Uzbek rugs and teaching the next generation Lushly textured, intricately patterned, and riotously colored—not to mention steeped in history, Uzbek rugs have enthralled collectors for centuries. Once part of the Persian Empire, Uzbekistan artists have […]

Juan Isaac Vásquez García Mexico/Rugs Zapotec master weavers of Teotitlán del Valle The community of Teotitlán del Valle in Zapotec, Mexico, has long been recognized as a center for gorgeous textiles. In the last several decades, the intricate weavings of […]

Roberto Domingo Gil Esteban Cuba/Painting & Drawing A record of life in Cienfuegos Inspired by his personal history, living in the heart of Cuba surrounded by fields of sugar cane and the simplicity of farmer’s lives, Roberto Esteban’s paintings mirror […]

Cooperativa Divino Niño Colombia/Apparel, Basketry, Beaded Jewelry Cana flecha and Zenu weaving traditions Colombian artist collective Divino Niño was founded by master artisans Reinel Mendoza and Magno Mahecha, members of the indigenous Zenu group in the northwestern part of Colombia. […]

Salaheddin Syria/Glass Recycled glass from Syria Since 2004, Salaheddin’s Syrian artisans have been crafting finely wrought, imminently practical glassware and other objects in a manner traditional to the region. Though its artists hail from Damascus, Aleppo, and other Syrian cities, […]

Mama Shaman Panama/Apparel Modern mola accessories In search of some truly original footwear? Look no further than the fantastical designs of Natalia Santamaria, who works closely with Colombia’s finest indigenous artists to create an array of boots, flats, and even […]

Rafael Cilau Valadez Mexico/Painting & Drawing, Sculpture A supernatural vision of nature If you’re lucky, you’ve seen the psychedelically colorful, energetically configured yarn paintings traditional to parts of Mexico in person: if so, you know the name “yarn painting” is […]

Seven Sisters Kyrgyzstan/Apparel Ethereal felt on silk textiles Zhanyl Sharshembieva of Kyrgyzstan is a member of a truly unique artist collective known regionally and globally as The Seven Sisters. As the name implies, this is a family group, created over […]

Zsuzsa Zsigmond Hungary/Apparel, Textiles for Home Old world linen woven the old school way Zsuzsa Zsigmond’s loom-woven textiles – as meticulously designed and understated as they are – may at first glance look strictly contemporary, but they are rooted in […]

Zarina Kendjaeva Uzbekistan/Textiles for Home Natural threads embroidered into stunning suzani Bukhara, Uzbekistan is beloved the world over for its wealth of artforms. It’s here, in this ancient city, that Zarina Kendjaeva’s traditional suzani embroidery both expands upon traditional floral […]

Ivan Dimitrov Bulgaria/Sculpture Exquisite artistry in wood Words can’t do justice to the intricate work of master woodcarver Ivan Dimitrov. His eye-catching three-dimensional art speaks to decades of dedicated practice, beginning with study under Bulgarian master woodcarvers. With lyrical titles […]

Sabahar Ethiopia/Apparel Natural fibers from Ethiopia A land of otherworldly beauty that for centuries was renowned as an international center of knowledge, Ethiopia has faced devastating economic hardships for decades. Aiming to alleviate some of that hardship is artist collective […]

Sudarshan India/Apparel Sudarshan means beautiful In Hindi, the word Sudarshan means beautiful, and in the ancient district of Jaipur, India, Sudarshan is also the name of a thriving artist collective, which was founded by expert textile artisan Hemangini Singh with […]

Clare Valley Art Collective Australia/Painting & Drawing Sacred symbols of the Awalye Set among some of the world’s most dramatic and remote desert landscapes, the idyllically named town of Utopia, Australia, is the ancestral homeland of Eastern Anmatyarre and Alyawarre […]

Sufiyan Ismail Khatri India/Apparel, Rugs, Textiles for Home Block print in traditional and evolving forms Alongside traditional products like saris and scarves, master Indian textile designer Sufiyan Ismail Khatri has recently introduced bedsheets, curtains, and carpets. “The main reason to […]

Sulafa Embroidery Center Palestinian Territories/Apparel, Textiles for Home New and old stitches from Gaza At Sulafa Embroidery Center in Gaza, Palestine, hundreds of female refugees produce modern, embroidered textiles while still maintaining traditional artistic styles. Sulafa would not be possible […]

Tentmakers of Cairo Egypt/Textiles for Home From the Classical era to the present day For the world’s nomadic peoples, portable spaces to take shelter and rest have been a crucial, centuries-old aspect of everyday life that continues today in many […]

Thilak Reddy India/Apparel, Textiles for Home Artistically within the Kalamkari tradition Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted cotton textile traditionally produced in Iran and India. The word is Persian, and translates into drawing with a pen—a simple-enough sounding technique, but […]

Tintsaba Master Sisal Weavers Swaziland/Basketry, Beaded Jewelry Sisal binds together ancient traditions and new colors Comprising hundreds of female artisans, many of them from rural areas of Swaziland, the Tintsaba Master Sisal Weavers collective was established in 1985 as a […]

Valentin Alarcon Venezuela/Apparel The real Panama comes from Venezuela Across the globe, people wear hats as a cultural signifier, a style statement, or simply as a practical measure to stave off the sun. In Central America, brimmed hats are a […]

Marlen Pacheco Colombia/Rugs Handloomed wire and fiber While some folk artists create a broad range of items in various mediums, Boyaca, Colombia’s Marlen Pacheco is focused on one thing: making some of the most durable and beautiful woven jute rugs […]

Yang Xiufen China/Apparel, Textiles for Home Miao indigo batik textiles tell ancient stories Guizhou Province, located in a relatively rural area in Southwestern China, is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the country. Artist and Guizhou native Yang […]

Multicolores Maya Women’s Rug Hooking Cooperative Guatemala/Rugs, Textiles for Home A new Maya textile tradition Multicolores, or many-colored, is about as fitting of a name as possible for this cooperative artist group from central Guatemala. Ecstatically hued embroidery adorns pillows, […]

Nilda Callañaupa Álvarez Peru/Apparel, Textiles for Home Preserving Andean textile traditions Non-profit weaving cooperative El Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC) employs hundreds of highly skilled artisans in the historically and culturally diverse city of Cusco, Peru. CTTC was […]

Omba Arts Trust Namibia/Basketry, Beaded Jewelry Of ostrich eggshell jewelry and woven baskets Representing artists from four distinct Namibian tribes, the Omba Arts Trust provides rural artisans with a means of income and creative expression. For decades, Namibia has been […]

Porfirio Gutierrez and Juana Gutierrez Contreras Mexico/Rugs Natural ways and innovative ideas Master weaver Porfirio Gutierrez and natural dyer Juana Gutierrez Contreras don’t just make art, they also work to preserve the ancient traditions of their Zapotec background. According to […]

Qasab Kutch Craftswomen India/Apparel, Textiles for Home Dhebaria Rabari embroidery represents ancient cultural ways The nomadic Rabari tribe first came to India’s Kutch region in the 13th century. Their story is captivating, as it was just 15 years ago when […]

Sanjar Ravshanovich Nazarov Uzbekistan/Apparel, Textiles for Home Suzani traditions in skilled hands Third-generation master embroiderer Sanjar Ravshanovich Nazarov grew up watching artists—in this case, his father and grandfather—at work. Today, with his own team of artisans and apprentices, Nazarov runs […]

Serge Jolimeau Haiti/Metal, Sculpture A metal master with his own unique style In the Croix des Bouquets neighborhood of Haiti, metal, fire and muscle come together to make lithe mermaid goddesses, mythic lovers and radiant sunbursts. Because these images often […]

Sidai Maasai Women’s Organization Tanzania/Beaded Jewelry Beading of the Arusha Maasai Sidai Maasai Women’s Organization, a charitable entity that works to embolden women through community development and education, involves over fifty women in gathering materials and crafting one-of-a-kind earrings, necklaces, […]

Siju Shamji Vishram India/Apparel Traditional textiles of Kutch Artisan Siju Shamji Vishram was born into a veritable weaving dynasty. His hometown of Bhuj, India, is a hub for textile artisans, and in the middle of the twentieth century, his father […]

Sna Jolobil Mexico/Apparel, Textiles for Home From the Maya highland of Chiapas Textile artist Pedro Meza and his community of 350 weavers create a range of items according to ancient Mayan techniques and design influences which span thousands of years. […]

Soledad Martha Hernandez de Castillo Mexico/Ceramics, Sculpture Puebla’s Tree of Life Soledad Martha Hernández de Castillo was born in Izúcar de Matamoros, a town in the Puebla region of Mexico, which has long been a renowned pottery center. Taught by […]

Somporn Intaraprayong Thailand/Apparel, Beaded Jewelry Sewing lives together Having experienced a difficult childhood, Somporn Intaraprayong learned how to become self-sufficient, but she also acquired empathy — especially towards women who have struggled to provide for themselves and their children. As […]

Magdalena Pedro Martínez Mexico/Ceramics, Sculpture Traje en cerámica Working with the distinctive black clay indigenous to San Bartolo Coyotepec, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Magdalena Pedro Martínez sculpts figures of women dressed in regional costumes. The black clay comes […]

Mamta Varma India/Apparel, Textiles for Home The traditional stitches of Lucknow Master textile artisan Mamta Varma was born and raised in Lucknow, India, the traditional home of fine chikan textiles. Varma’s passion for every kind of craft and embroidery comes […]

Marco Remigio Paillamilla Ortiz Chile/Metal Jewelry The beautiful geometry of Mapuche silver For Chilean master jeweler Marco Remigio Paillamilla Ortiz, the art of silver-working transcends easy description. A native of historic Temuco, Chile, located just south of Santiago, Marco first […]

María Concepción Ospina Gómez Colombia/Apparel, Textiles for Home The spiral-woven bags of the Wayúu Brightly colored bags with woven straps, embellished with tassels are just some of the items of offer from María Concepción Ospina Gómez of Colombia, who is […]

Marie Alexandrine Rasoanantenaina Madagascar/Apparel, Basketry, Rugs, Textiles for Home Weaving together fragrant vetiver and recycled denim For 35 years, artisans at the Madagascar cooperative textile organization Tahiana Creation have been producing a range of natural-fiber products. Tahiana’s founder, Marie Alexandrine […]

Galerie Batik Jawa Indigo Indonesia/Apparel, Textiles for Home The blue notes of Javanese batiks Artist cooperative Galeri Batik Jawa Indigo was founded by master textile artisan Mayasari Sekarlaranti. Born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Sekarlaranti watched her mother lead the city’s Yogyakarta […]

Meeta Mastani India/Apparel Traditional Chaubundi block prints meet the 21st century In addition to being a textile artist, Meeta Mastani is a writer, lecturer, social activist, and even a professor: in 2016, she was an artist-in-residence at The University of […]

Karim Oukid Ouksel Algeria/Metal Jewelry Enamel and silver traditions of Kabylia Master jeweler Karim Oukin Ouksel was born in the tiny Berber village of Ath Yani, Algeria; though small, Ath Yani has a centuries-old status as a producer of highly […]

Khomid Zukhurutdinov Uzbekistan/Rugs The traditional arts of nomadic weaving In many Uzbekistan homes, richly colored, beautifully designed carpets act as decorative and functional centerpieces. Khomid Zukhurutdinov, together with his artisans at the Al Khabib Carpet Shop in Bukhara, produce heirloom-quality […]

Luis Alberto Cano Colombia/Metal Jewelry Pre-Columbian motifs rendered in gold jewelry In the lushly beautiful city of Rionegro, master jeweler Luis Alberto Cano runs artist collective Precoarte, which for decades has been focused on preserving ancient, indigenous creative techniques. This […]

Leandro Gomez Quintero Cuba/Sculpture Moving forward with handmade vehicles For decades, Cuban artist Leandro Gomez Quintero has been creating model vehicles that are both uncannily representational and also replete with whimsy. For Quintero, the humble car or truck is the […]

Lesia Pona Ukraine/Apparel Pokuttya embroidery traditions Ukraine’s Pokuttya Folk Art cooperative began in 2015 with the goal of preserving traditional artistic methods and styles of the region. Most of the group’s members are women, Ukraine’s Pokuttya Folk Art cooperative began in […]

Lider Rivera Matos Peru/Beaded Jewelry The translucent beauty of horn Peruvian artisan Lider Rivera Matos, a lifelong citizen of Lima, Peru, makes jewelry and home goods using a material you might not be familiar with: cow horn. Merging ancient tradition […]

Luis Méndez López Spain/Metal Jewelry The grand filigree of Salamanca The timelessly elegant jewelry of master Spanish artisan Luis Méndez López are inspired mainly by designs from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries—when extravagant accessories of the finest stones and […]

Madina Kasimbaeva Uzbekistan/Apparel, Textiles for Home The Tashkent style of suzani Tashkent, Uzbekistan is the home of weaver Madina Kasimbaeva, who runs a workshop that produces some of the most finely crafted textiles in the area. She provides employment for […]

Arte Ventosa Mexico/Ceramics La Vera Ceramica Talavera Mexican ceramicist Dr. Isabelle Collins once said, “I love art, but I cannot eat out of my painting. [With pottery] you can showcase it, but you can also use it.” This encapsulates Collins’ […]

Blanc de Noir Laos/Metal Jewelry Silver dok phikoun flowers bring blessings Silverwork is an integral artform to both traditional and contemporary Lao culture. It goes back several centuries, and was a splendid part of court life. Many motifs offered by […]

Hebron Glass Palestinian Territories/Glass An ancient art still practiced today Hamzeh Natsheh is a master glass-blower who runs the artist collective Hebron Glass along with his son, Hamdi. Residing in the city of Hebron, located in Palestine’s West Bank, the […]

Hocine Bazine Algeria/Rugs A Berber family tradition of carpets For centuries, the Berber people of North Africa have been known for their distinctive textiles. Algerian master weaver Hocine Bazine has longstanding family roots in the creation of rugs and textiles […]

Ikhtiyor Kendjaev Uzbekistan/Rugs Treasures underfoot Weaver Ikhtiyor Kendjaev comes from a family steeped in ancient techniques of carpet design and craft. Though he was born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan—a region famed for its textiles—Kendjaev’s ancestors were originally from Afghanistan, and brought […]

Jabulile Nala South Africa/Ceramics The art of Zulu pottery South Africa is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, diverse population, and complex history. It’s understandable that a region so diverse and culturally rich is home to master artists like Jabulile […]

Janmamad Salemamad Luhar India/Metal Three centuries of bell making Janmamad Salemamad Luhar belongs to the Muslim Luhar community of Zura, where for generations, his family has made sturdy and beautiful iron-coated copper bells, many adorned with ancient geometric symbols and […]

Jorge Moscoso Ecuador/Metal Jewelry A blending of cultures in jewelry form Jorge Moscoso, a native of Ecuador, is a master jewelry designer who uses traditional Ecuadorian motifs to make highly refined accessories both in fine silver and gold, embellished with […]

José Luis Reyes Martínez Mexico/ Enchanted sculptures from an enchanting family San Antonino Castillo Velasco, Oaxaca is home to a centuries-old ceramic tradition, and also the residence of sculptor José Luis Reyes Martínez. Martínez’s pieces are both beautiful and ceremonial, […]

José German Punzo Nuñez Mexico/Metal, Sculpture Coppersmiths of Michaocan The large Nuñez family lives in a small town about an hour and a half from Morelia, the capital of Michoacan, Mexico. Copper and silver work is the main source of […]

Josnel Bruno Haiti/Metal, Sculpture Inventive recycling from Croix des Bouquets Josnel was an apprentice to master Serge Jolimeau and is now a metalworker in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, who transforms discarded oil drums into remarkable artwork with his skill and creativity. He […]

Julio Laja Chichicaxtle Mexico/Textiles for Home Mythical flora and fauna come to life At ten years old, Julio Laja Chichicaxtle’s grandmother taught him how to make manteles, a type of traditional Mexican tablecloth with ancient roots in the region of […]

Dwaraka Plus India/Apparel, Textiles for Home Making a future with kalamkari The not-for-profit and artisan-owned Society DWARAKA PLUS (Development of Weavers and Rural Artisans in Kalamkari Art) was founded in 1998 by Anita Reddy along with her father Dwaraknath Reddy […]

Erkebu Djumagulova Uzbekistan/Sculpture Tender figures of felted wool With just under a million residents, Bishkek is the largest city in Kyrgyzstan, and is home to textile artist Erkebu Djumagulova. Bishkek—and Kyrgyzstan in general—is an area where felted wool goods are […]

Firdose Ahmad Jan India/Apparel The real pashmina The sumptuous textiles of master weaver Firdose Ahmad Jan are beloved for their exquisite patterning and unparalleled softness. Extending a centuries-old artistic tradition, Jan, who lives and works in Kashmir, India, believes strongly […]

Gahaya Links Rwanda/Basketry Baskets of peace and prosperity The female artisans of Rwanda’s Gahaya Links arguably produce some of the most recognizable items at the International Folk Art Market. Finely woven baskets, adorned with geometric patterning and vibrant, naturally dyed […]

Gasali Adeyemo Nigeria/Apparel, Textiles for Home Adire traditions of NIgeria Master adire artist Gasali Adeyemo creates beautiful fabric and clothing using a technique he learned in his native Nigeria. He specializes in indigo dyes because of their cultural importance to […]

El Grupo Bayate Cuba/Painting & Drawing Lively arte naif from Cuba Mella, a village in southeastern Cuba, is the home of 8-member artist collective El Grupo Bayate: self-taught artists who support each other socially and creatively. The group was formed […]

Gulnora Odilova Uzbekistan/Apparel, Textiles for Home The floral styles of Shakhrisabz embroidery Gulnora Odilova resides in the city of Shakhrisabz, located in southern Uzbekistan. Over a decades-long career as a master beadworker, weaver, and embroiderer, Odilova has also taught her […]

Crucelina Chocho Opua Colombia/Basketry Werregue palm baskets from the Wounaan people of Colombia Colombian basketry artist Crucelina Chocho Opua is member of the Wounaan indigenous group, which is native to parts of Central and South America. An expert in werregue […]

Dilshod Usmanov Uzbekistan/Rugs The unique knotting technique of soumak carpets Soumak weaving is an integral part of Uzbekistan’s artistic and cultural heritage. The intricate textile-making process is intimately known to Dilshod Usmanov of Samarkand. The process starts with an artist […]

Elhadji Mohamed Koumama Mali/Metal Jewelry Intricate, gleaming Tuareg traditions For generations the Koumamas, a family of nomadic Tuareg silversmiths, traveled the Sahara selling their fine silver goods. In the 1970s, however, droughts caused the family to settle in Agadez, Niger, […]

Jyoti Reddy India/Apparel, Textiles for Home Masters of eri silk Hyderabad, India-based textile collective Ereena makes strikingly beautiful textiles. Using a type of ancient silk called “eri,” the group produces luxurious, sophisticated items suitable for a range of uses. Additionally, […]

Amalia Gue Guatemala/Apparel, Textiles for Home Airy supplementary weft cotton gauze loomed with tradition and beauty Amalia Gue is the president of Ixbalam’ke, a cooperative of 65 women dedicated to the production of textiles using traditional weaving techniques. They live […]

Amna Sharif Pakistan/Metal Jewelry The cultures of the subcontinent expressed in filigree For centuries, Lahore, Pakistan, has had a tradition of producing uniquely artful adornments, be they textiles for the home, or wearable goods suitable for the most important ceremonies. […]

Armando Jimenez Aragon Mexico/Sculpture Carrying on a brilliant family tradition Residing in San Antonio Arrazola, a town in Oaxaca, Mexico, master carver Armando Jimenez is known for his brightly painted, whimsical sculptures. He is the grandson of Manuel Jimenez, who […]

Asif Shaikh India/Apparel, Textiles for Home A meticulous master’s marvelous needlework Employing strikingly elegant, meticulously crafted techniques, master Indian textile artist Asif Shaikh’s distinctive method of art-making has earned him numerous accolades. He was fascinated by the craft of embroidery […]

Mohamed El Maouloud Ag Hamid Mali/Metal Jewelry Silver and leather and centuries of culture Northern Mali artist collective Timidwa was founded with the mission of bringing people together, united in common creative goals. Comprising 150 male and female artisans from […]

Augustin Cruz Prudencio Mexico/Sculpture A young master of alebrijes Since childhood, master wood carver Augustin Cruz Prudencio has been surrounded by art. He recalls watching Day of the Dead processions, Christmas parades, and other community events in his hometown of […]

Ben Zion David Israel/Metal Jewelry Eight generations of Yeminite filigree artistry Jewish Yemenite fine jewelry, based on gold and silver wire filigree, is the highly specialized type of artwork that master jeweler Ben Zion has made for decades. When the […]

Muhayo Aliyeva Uzbekistan/Apparel, Textiles for Home Coats of many colors Muhayo Aliyeva and her sisters founded Bibi Hanum with the goal of reviving and renewing interest in the craft of making traditional Uzbek clothing. The main mission of their workshop […]

Blaise Cayol France/Basketry Forgotten wicker weaving lives again To call Tavel, France, “romantic” doesn’t begin to do justice to this lushly scenic region in the southern part of the country. For hundreds of years, the area has been synonymous with […]

Bounkhong Signavong Laos/Apparel Traditional textiles turn into innovative apparel Bounkhong Signavong’s textiles are made from silk and cotton and are naturally dyed using plants native to Southeast Asia. He says of his work, “In collaboration with master weavers who can […]

Carla Fernandez Mexico/Apparel Collaboration by design Carla Fernández is a Mexico City-based fashion designer inspired by the richness of indigenous textiles of Mexico. She has collected and cataloged hundreds of indigenous garments, discovering that almost all of them were made […]

Yesenia Yadiro Salgado Téllez Mexico/Metal Jewelry The allure of Oaxacan silver filigree Oaxacan silver filigree is famous the world-over. For hundreds of years, artisans from this fertile region in Mexico have been crafting take-your-breath-away jewelry in ornate, regionally specific designs. […]

Aissata Namoko Mali/Apparel, Textiles for Home 21st-century African indigo inspired by ancient Dogon tie-dye patterns Master textile artisan Aïssata Namoko of Mali first learned to sew from her mother, an accomplished seamstress, as an eight-year-old child. As Namoko continued to […]

Adiv Pure Nature India/Apparel Urban artisans turn temple flowers into prayerful natural dyes In the urban Mumbai community of East Andheri, India, time-honored connections to the materials and processes that produce natural dyes for vibrant Indian silks and cottons have […]

Abduljabbar and Abdullah Khatri India/Apparel A team of hundreds is behind the making of gorgeous bandhini creations Sidr Craft is a social, artisan-based enterprise established in 1992 and led by Abdullah and Abduljabbar Khatri. They employ approximately 200 craftswomen from […]

Andrea Usai Italy/Metal Jewelry Millennia-old Sardinian filigree traditions flourishing today Sardinia, Italy-based master jeweler Andrea Usai studied the labor-intensive craft of making finely designed, heirloom jewelry for many years before he began his own independent studio. Today, Usai uses techniques […]

Sepali Madagascar/Textiles for Home Wild silk cocoon tapestries extend Malagassy traditions to new places One example of Madagascar’s incredible biodiversity is its many types of silk moths, found in multiple habitats throughout the island. Traditionally, wild silk cocoons are collected, […]

Timoteo Ccarita Sacaca Peru/Apparel, Textiles for Home Ancient cosmology in tapestry form Intricately detailed and often ecstatically colorful, the textiles produced by Cusco, Peru-based artisan Timoteo Ccarita Sacaca and his team of weavers are remarkable for their creativity and beauty. […]

Avani Earthcraft India/Apparel A cooperative devoted to cultural and environmental preservation and economic opportunity Avani Earthcraft was founded in 1997 by Rashmi Bharti, who will be coming to Santa Fe to represent the group,  and Rajnish Jain. For over 20 […]

Marco Antonio Ruiz Mexico/Sculpture A childhood fascination becomes a master sculptor’s art Born in Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico, master artisan Marco Antonio Ruiz and his family lived in Mexico City for several years; it was here where he first fell in love […]

Nature Iraq Iraq/Rugs, Textiles for Home The ancient textile arts of Iraq’s Marsh Arabs survive against all odds Fantastically colorful and energetically patterned, the textiles made by the artists of Nature Iraq are as unique as the culture they belong […]

Kitengela Women Olmakau Cooperative Kenya/Apparel, Beaded Jewelry Maasai beading goes beyond jewelry into sandals and handbags Maasai men and women have always worn beaded jewelry, both for special occasions and for everyday use. Phoebe Lasoi and the Kitengela Women Olmakau […]

Josué Eleazar Castro Razo Mexico/Sculpture A mechanical engineer brings movement and magic to folk sculpture The historical city of Salamanca, Mexico, is home to a fascinating blend of indigenous and colonial architecture, music, and artwork. Master artist Josué Eleazar Castro […]

Haiti Projects Haiti/Apparel, Textiles for Home Old World needlework plus Haitian creativity equals exquisite textiles Non-profit organization Haiti Projects is steadfastly focused on financially empowering the women of this impoverished country, while simultaneously encouraging their creativity and health, and their […]

Florencia Espinal Ramírez and Vicente Castillo Dionicio Mexico/Sculpture Preserving the lacquer traditions of Olinalá Long before the Spanish arrived in Mexico, indigenous people created artworks as ingenious as they were visually appealing. Continuing that tradition today are master woodcarvers Florencia […]

AMAPOLAY Peru/Apparel A new urban folk culture takes root in Lima Upon first glance, the brightly colored, graphic designs of AMAPOLAY  look purely contemporary. Nevertheless, this Lima, Peru-based collective uses screen-printing—a technique with ancient origins—along with deeply traditional motifs and […]

Dairan Fernández de la Fuente Cuba/Painting & Drawing Gorgeous wood-block prints tell stories both old and new Using the continent- and centuries-spanning process of woodblock printing, Cuban artist Dairan Fernández de la Fuente creates work steeped in the ever-evolving cultural […]

La Familia Lorenzo Mexico/Painting & Drawing For La Familia Lorenzo, folk art is a family affair The Lorenzo family of Guerrero, Mexico is unique among Mexican retablo-makers; not only does the multi-generational trio of artisans—helmed by patriarch Lucas for decades—work […]

Ferney Mejía Dura Basketry, Sponsored Artists Canaan baskets range in size from monumental to modest The artisans of Colombia’s Asociación Gloria de Dios, founded in 2009, make strikingly intricate, hand-woven baskets using indigenous materials: the fibers of indigenous tetera and chocolatillo plants. […]