Angélica Delfina Vásquez Cruz, also known as the Ceramista del Preciosismo (born 20 September 1958), is a potter from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Biography and Career

Angélica Delfina Vásquez Cruz was born in

Santa María Atzompa Santa María Atzompa is a town and municipality located in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, about five km from the state capital of Oaxaca. It is part of the Centro District in the Valles Centrales region. The town was founded between the 7th and 9th ...

on 20 September 1958 to Delfina Cruz Díaz and Ernesto Vásquez Reyes, who taught their daughter artisan works and how to fashion toys, small jars, pots, and pans. In 1978, after learning how to decorate handicrafts, Vásquez began making her own crafts in her own style, inspired by the mythology, culture, and folklore of her some state,

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

, in Mexico. Vásquez has exhibited her works at the Mexican Fiesta at

Millville, New Jersey Millville is a city in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 27,491, a decrease of 909 (−3.2%) from the 2010 census count of 28,400, which in turn reflected an in ...

in 2004, the Popular Art Museum of Oaxaca in

San Bartolo Coyotepec San Bartolo Coyotepec is a town and municipalities of Oaxaca, municipality located in the center of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is in the Centro District, Oaxaca, Centro District of the Valles Centrales de Oaxaca, Valles Centrales region about ...

in 2003, the

National Museum of the American Indian The National Museum of the American Indian is a museum in the United States devoted to the culture of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution group of museums and research centers. The museum has three ...

in Washington D.C. in 1999, the Eyes Gallery of the Mexican Fine Arts Center in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

in 1998, the Chicago Museum's Celebrating Life exhibition in 1993, the annual

Day of the Dead The Day of the Dead () is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pa ...

exhibitions in

Oaxaca de Juárez Oaxaca de Juárez (), or simply Oaxaca (Valley Zapotec languages, Zapotec: ''Ndua''), is the capital and largest city of the eponymous Administrative divisions of Mexico, Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is the municipal seat for the surrounding munici ...

, the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth Arts Center,

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

and at the Museum of the Cats in California in 2008, among others. Angélica Delfina Vásquez Cruz has been recognized as a master of Oaxaca folk art through her pottery which often includes angels and local animals. Her craft was taught to her by her father, who learned from his own father, and she has passed it down to her own daughter and granddaughter. She works with local materials, constructed traditionally and then wood fired upon completion. She makes each piece uniquely and by hand. She received the 2008

National Prize for Arts and Sciences The National Prize for Arts and Sciences () is awarded annually by the Government of Mexico in six categories. It is part of the Mexican Honours System and was established in 1945 by President Manuel Ávila Camacho to promote the country's artistic ...

in the "Popular Arts and Traditions" category. The award was presented to her by

Felipe Calderón Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa (; born 18 August 1962) is a Mexican politician and lawyer who served as the 63rd president of Mexico from 2006 to 2012 and Secretary of Energy during the presidency of Vicente Fox between 2003 and 2004. ...

Citations

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vasquez Cruz, Angelica Delfina Living people 1958 births 20th-century Mexican women artists 21st-century Mexican women artists People from Oaxaca Mexican artisans National Prize for Arts and Sciences (Mexico)