The Soteno family of Metepec is one of the main families of ceramic artisans specializing in sculptures called Trees of Life which have made the town found in the State of Mexico one of Mexico’s main ceramic centers. The Tree of Life is a complicated colorful sculpture which was developed from the creation of candlesticks. The family’s prominence began with Modesta Fernández Mata, the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of the Soteno potters today, who began experimenting making more decorative items along with utilitarian ones. The generations after her have learned the craft and improved on it starting as children working with parents and grandparents. The two most notable members of the family are Tiburcio and Oscar, second and third generation respectively, who have won various awards and have their works in collections worldwide.
Emilio Molinero Hurtado was a Mexican potter, noted for his revival of pre-Hispanic pottery designs.
Guillermo Ríos Alcalá is a Mexican potter, restoration expert and educator from the state of Colima.
Maximo Gómez Ponce is a noted Mexican potter from the La Luz neighborhood of the city of Puebla, an area known for its local traditional pottery.
The Aguilar family of Ocotlán de Morelos are from a rural town in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. This town produced only utilitarian items until Isaura Alcantara Diaz began creating decorative figures with her husband Jesus Aguila Revilla. The couple taught their five daughters who continued innovating their own styles and then teaching the two generations after them. Two of the sisters, Guilliermina and Irene have been named “grand masters” by the Fomento Cultural Banamex, for their figures and sets of figures related to the life and traditions of Oaxaca, as well as Mexican icons such as Frida Kahlo and the Virgin of Guadalupe. The younger generations have made their own adaptations with some attaining their own recognition such as Lorenzo Demetrio García Aguilar and Jose Francisco Garcia Vazquez.
Hilario Alejos Madrigal is a Mexican potter from a small town in the state of Michoacán, known for his “pineapple” ceramic wares. The name comes from the original form which was created by his mother, potter Elisa Madrigal Martinez, who created punch bowls in the shape of pineapples. Alejos Madriga’s variations include bowls, candelabras and more, with the version done in a green glaze be best known. Alejos Madrigal has won awards for his work, which is featured on the cover of large reference book Grandes Maestros del Arte Popular Mexicano by Fomento Cultural Banamex.
Adrián Luis González is a Mexican potter specializes in Trees of Life and other decorative pieces.
María de Jesús Nolasco Elías was a Mexican potter from Ocumicho, Michoacán, a town noted for the creation of colorful ceramic figurines.
Leonarda Estrella Laureano is a Mayo Mexican potter from Capomos, El Fuerte in Sinaloa.
Florentino Jimón Barba is a Mexican potter based in Tonalá, Jalisco.
Nicasio Pajarito Gonzalez is a Mexican potter from Tonalá, Jalisco known for his canelo ware.
Cesar Torres Ramírez is a Mexican potter who specialized in the country Talavera pottery tradition. His work has been featured in books such as Cerámica Y Cultura: The Story of Spanish and Mexican Mayólica of the Museum of International Folk Art in New Mexico, in the Grandes Maestros de Arte Popular Mexicano as a “grand master” by the Fomento Cultural Banamex and as one of Mexico's best artisans in a documentary on Canal Once in Mexico.
Ignacio Peralta Soledad is a Mexican potter from Huaquechula, Puebla, known for his brightly colored ceramic sculptures which have been used to decorate homes, churches and plazas in various locations in Mexico.
Celso Camacho Quiroz is a fourth-generation Mexican potter who works in Metepec, in the State of Mexico. His specialty is the making of large cooking vessels called “cazuelas,” traditionally used to cook mole and rice, but he also makes a number of other utilitarian and decorative pieces. His work has been recognized with awards such as the Gran Premio de Arte Popular from FONART in 1999 and being named a “grand master” by the Fomento Cultural Banamex in 2003.
Apolinar Hernandez Balcazar is a Mexican basket maker from San Martin Coapaxton, Tenancingo, State of Mexico, whose work has won various national awards.
Felipa Tzeek Naal is a Mexican artisan specializing in traditional Maya palm frond weaving. Her work is well-known regionally and has been recognized by the Fomento Cultural Banamex, who named her a "grand master".
Rosalinda Cauich Ramirez is a Mexican artisan specializing in basket weaving. Her work has been recognized with various awards.
Gumercindo España Olivares was a Mexican artisan who specialized in traditional toys hand carved from wood. He was from a family of toymakers, beginning with his grandfather, which started in clay but switched to wood. In addition to making traditional toys, the artisan also experimented with new designs, such as those related to the history of Guanajuato. His efforts have won him various awards.
Ascensión de la Cruz Morales is a Mexican artisan from the small community of San Francisco Ocotán, Durango who specializes in making musical instruments such as violins, guitars, tolochoches(similar to a cello) and harps. His work has earned him the title of “grand master” from the Fomento Cultural Banamex.
