José García Antonio and his family use clay from the soil of his village to create life-sized sculptures of Zapotec women, mermaids, and other smaller figures. José discovered his love for clay with a little help from the rain and the streets of his village, scraping from them the sticky material that would eventually become his Raison d'être. His wife teresita is his greatest muse and can be seen across his work, with her signature beauty mark in the center of her forehead.

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Known particularly for his large creations, he has won many awards and has been featured in in books, museums, and private collections. His work has since become well known and was recognized as a “grand master” by the Fomento Cultural Banamex in 2001.

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After experiencing problems with his sight for 50 years, he is now nearly blind but continues to work daily. His wife assists in the finishing details of his sculptures. José has also passed his art onto his children who work in the family compound in San Antonino alongside him. The pieces by Santa Reyna Teresita, José Miguel, Sara Ernestina, Reyna Esther, and son-in-law Jose Luis Reyes Martinez, are distinguished by slightly different styles. Students from local schools often come to the workshop for demonstrations and hands-on sessions.

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