About the Artist
Josefina Aguilar Alcántara (daughter of Isaura and Jesús)
Born 1945, Ocotlan de Morelos, Oaxaca, Mexico. Josefina was unquestionably the greatest artist of the very talented Aguilar sisters, and had a very prolific career. Unfortunately Josefina is now blind and is no longer creating her own work.
The following brief bio is takern from Wikipedia:
Josefina Aguilar is a Mexican folk artist from Ocotlán de Morelos, Oaxaca. She is best known for her small clay figurines, called muñecas, an art form she learned from her mother Isaura Aguilar. Aguilar uses red clay to create depictions of everyday village activities, religious and folkloric scenes, famous figures and special Day of the Dead statues. Collectors of her work have included Nelson Rockefeller, who discovered her work on a trip to Oaxaca in 1975 as well as repeat visitors to Oaxaca, who come to see her latest work. Children's book author Jeanette Winter has written and illustrated a counting book inspired by Aguilar's life and work.
(Wikipedia)
Josefina Aguilar, born in 1945, came to collector Nelson Rockefeller’s attention on a trip to Oaxaca in 1975, and received wide acclaim when she won the first place award at the Gran Premio de Arte Popular in 1977. Josefina lives in a compound in Ocotlán de Morelos with other members of her family who help her with the various stages of collecting and preparing the clay, molding the figures, firing them in a primitive kiln in the compound, and finally adding color with house paints.
Every figure or tableau is different and may include multiple figures and accessories. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are popular subjects. Her figures come in various sizes; you can see some of her largest in the nearby ex-convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in Ocotlán de Morelos. Her family compound is a popular stop on any folk art tour of Oaxaca. Blind since 2014, Josefina until recently could still make her figures through touch.
(above notes by Nancy Walkup on the website of the Museum of International Folk Art)
