Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca

From the state of Oaxaca, Agustin Tinoco continues the Oaxacan art of alebrijes, wood carvings created using copal wood. Copal wood can be sanded down to a fine porcelain finish, and this smoothness creates a surface perfect for painting intricate designs on the surface. These works are intricately painted and range from figural to whimsical and representational, as well as figures depicting Santos (saints), animals, and even devotionals.

The photo to the right depicts Saint Francis preaching to the birds.