Carolina Sandoval & Kengi Santos: Where Oaxacan Woodcarving Meets the Art of Textiles

In the valleys of Oaxaca, where centuries-old traditions flourish under the warm sun, two artists are creating something extraordinary. Carolina Sandoval Melchor and her husband, Kengi Santos, are known for their alebrijes, those whimsical wooden creatures carved from copal wood, but what sets their work apart is how they weave together two of Oaxaca’s most important crafts, woodcarving and textiles.

Santo Tomás Jalieza: A Village of Weaving and Color

While the nearby town of San Martín Tilcajete is famous worldwide as the heart of Oaxacan woodcarving, Santo Tomás Jalieza, where Carolina and Kengi live, is celebrated for its textile tradition.

For generations, the women of Jalieza have used backstrap looms, a weaving technique dating back to pre-Hispanic times, to create belts, bags, and table runners with stunning geometric designs. These textiles aren’t just beautiful; they are carriers of Zapotec heritage, with patterns that symbolize fertility, protection, nature, and the cosmos.

Walk through Jalieza’s market and you’ll see rows of handwoven pieces glowing with color. The artistry is so intrinsic to the town’s identity that it shapes the way Carolina and Kengi see the world, and their art.

From Loom to Alebrije: Carolina’s Signature Style

What makes Carolina and Kengi’s work so captivating is how they incorporate Jalieza’s weaving tradition directly into their alebrijes.

• In some pieces, such as the armadillo, miniature, hand-woven belts with dangling tassels are fitted onto the carved figures. These aren’t painted imitations; they’re real, woven textiles made in the style of Jalieza’s famous belts.

• Other carvings feature painted geometric designs, diamonds, zigzags, and stepped patterns that mirror the loom-woven motifs of their hometown.

• Figures like the axolotl and spiny creatures use threads, tassels, and braided elements to give the animals a lifelike texture, blending sculpture and textile craft into a single artwork.

This marriage of carving, painting, and weaving creates pieces that celebrate not just one Oaxacan tradition, but many.

The Artistic Process: A Creative Partnership

The process begins with Kengi Santos, who carves each figure from locally sourced copal wood. He gives shape to armadillos, owls, foxes, whales, and fantastical creatures with wings, spines, and curling tails.

Then Carolina Sandoval transforms the figures through her painting and textile embellishments. Using vibrant colors and fine detail, she covers the carvings in Zapotec-inspired patterns while weaving in Jalieza’s textile heritage, sometimes literally.

The result? Alebrijes with motion, texture, and cultural depth.

Art with Heritage and Heart

Carolina and Kengi belong to a new generation of Oaxacan artists who are:

Preserving heritage: Their work honors both the weaving of Jalieza and the carving of Tilcajete.  Innovating creatively: By adding real woven elements, they expand what an alebrije can be. Collaborating as partners: Their carvings are the product of two talents working in harmony, Kengi shaping the forms, Carolina bringing them to life through paint and textiles.

Collectors love their work because each piece tells a layered story, woodcarving meets weaving, tradition meets imagination, heritage meets contemporary artistry.

Discover Carolina & Kengi’s Alebrijes at SandiaFolk

We’re proud to feature Carolina Sandoval Melchor and Kengi Santos at SandiaFolk. Their creations, armadillos with woven belts, axolotls with colorful tassels, whales and owls painted with textile-inspired motifs, carry the soul of Oaxaca in every detail.