María de Jesús Nolasco Elías

María de Jesús Nolasco Elías (b. December 8, 1944 - d. 2000) was a Mexican potter from Ocumicho, Michoacán, a town noted for the creation of colorful ceramic figurines.[1]

She learned the craft from another Ocumicho potter named Marcelino Vicente.[1]

Her works show imagination, for example the creation of devils emerging from flames, animals devouring each other, images from the life of Christ with indigenous elements and even a representation of the Last Supper, with Jesus eating a watermelon. She also created mermaids, smiling sun faces, portraits of real people and trees of life.[1]

Nolasco Elías's pieces were both made with molds and by hand, using local clays, polishing dried pieces with a stone.[1]

Her work was shown at the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City in 1993, as well as at various exhibitions outside Mexico. She was named a “grand master” by the Fomento Cultural Banamex in 2001.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Grandes Maestros del Arte Popular Mexicano. Mexico City: Collección Fomento Cultural Banamex. 2001. pp. 99–100. ISBN 968-5234-03-5.