Skip to main content Color, Whimsy and Humor: Mexican Popular Ceramics

Color, Whimsy and Humor: Mexican Popular Ceramics

August 1, 2009 - April 30, 2011

This exhibition showcases beautiful examples of Mexican ceramic works from the Fine Arts Center’s Latin American collection. The art of pottery making, an important part of the rich tradition of popular arts in Mexico, goes back centuries into the Mesoamerican past. Generations of artists of great technical mastery and keen aesthetic sensibilities have created an array of sculptural artworks that portray their world and way of life.

The colorful ceramics on view characterize a vibrant artistic tradition that continues to be distinguished as a source of national pride and is deeply rooted in the social, economic and cultural life of the country. Striking figures such as these are the highlight of village, town and city markets. They are collected throughout the world by museums and collectors.

Whimsical, humorous, ceremonial, religious and mythological in nature, Mexican popular ceramics show the enormous versatility of the medium and capture the formidable artistic gift of the artists that create them.

“Entertaining and down-to-earth” and “a visual carnival that anyone can enjoy.” The Denver Post