Zeny Fuentes and Reyna Piña, are from a small town in Oaxaca, Mexico. These talented artisans come from families dedicated to carving and painting wood in a Mexican folk art style of wood carving known as alebrije. “Our parents were master carvers and they taught each of us when we were little kids,” says Zeny. “We studied different things too, but what we really like to do is crafting alebrijes and continue with our families’ traditions.”
When Zeny and Reyna got married they decided to combine their artistic ideas into their own version of alebrijes. “You could say we conceived a life filled with colors and a love for nature as well as for our huge cultural heritage. And now we share our love for this art with our children, who will preserve their family legacy.”
Their wood carvings use reclaimed materials, including tree trunks, branches, roots from dead trees or wood they find in rivers and fields.
Zeny relates that they “love spending free time in the nearby fields and rivers and admiring nature while sitting atop a mountain or hill. This is reflected in the work that we do, which is special and authentic. Our inspiration comes from life’s essential elements: the sun, the moon, the wind, water and fire, as well as the main symbols of our Zapotec culture. They are related to animals, flowers, insects, the cycle of life, and time.”
Their work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the U.S., and their works are part of a show in Israel andn in Germany.
Here are Some Examples of Zeny and Reyna’s Wood Carvings
For more of Zeny and Reyna’s work, you can visit their artisan page on UNICEF Market. Shopping at UNICEF Market makes a difference. Every purchase helps UNICEF put children first and supports local artisans.
