Tócuaro, Michoacán

Assistant name: Elia Saucedo Castillo

Felipe Horta is a master mask maker from Tócuaro, Michoacán, with more than 45 years of experience carving vibrant wooden masks. He began learning the craft at age 12 under the guidance of his father, Eustacio Horta Castillo, one of the region’s pioneer artisans. Today, Felipe is both a guardian of tradition and an innovator in Mexican folk art.

His masks—featuring devils, animals, and mythical figures—are hand-carved from woods like copal, avocado, and colorín, and painted in bold colors. They play a central role in cultural festivals and rituals such as Christmas pageants (pastorelas) and Candlemas celebrations. As Felipe says, “each mask captures the dancer’s energy,” turning every performance into a powerful and symbolic expression of identity.

Felipe’s workshop is a family effort, involving his wife, children, and local collaborators. He has brought his work to festivals and cultural centers across the U.S. and Europe. In 2023, he showcased his masks in Paris with designer Carla Fernández, sharing the richness of Michoacán’s traditions on an international stage. His legacy lives on not only through his own hands but in those he teaches, keeping this living art form vibrant and relevant.

Saturday, June 7th 3:15 p.m.

Maestro Felipe will give a demonstration and workshop on mask making.

Felipe will offer a variety of small, hand-carved wooden masks—featuring birds, jaguars, devils, and human faces—each one a miniature canvas ready to be transformed with color.

The workshop, designed for up to 40 participants and lasting 1–2 hours, begins with a brief talk by Felipe about the cultural significance of masks in Mexican folk traditions and the techniques behind his craft. Brushes and acrylic paints will be provided so that every child or adult can decorate their own unique piece to take home.

Each handcrafted mask will be available for $20.