Antonio Alonso is one of Oaxaca’s rising masters of cartonería, the intricate art of papier-mâché sculpture. Working from his studio in Oaxaca City, he transforms recycled paper, cardboard, and wire into expressive figures that celebrate Mexico’s imagination and identity. His pieces often feature Xoloitzcuintles, opossums, Tehuanas (Oaxacan women), and other emblematic characters of Oaxacan life, blending humor, symbolism, and social reflection.
A graduate of Oaxaca’s School of Plastic and Visual Arts, Antonio discovered papier-mâché only a few years ago, yet has already won nine major competitions, including national and state awards.
This expressive papier-mâché sculpture depicts Mexico’s sacred xoloitzcuintle, Xolo, the hairless dog believed by ancient peoples to guide souls through the underworld.
