Jose Calvo & Magaly Fuentes: Spectacular Great Horned Owl
Jose Calvo & Magaly Fuentes: Spectacular Great Horned Owl
This magnificent owl alebrije is a brilliant collaboration between Jose Calvo and his wife, Magaly Fuentes. Jose’s carving gives the owl an elegant, calm, watchful presence.
The body is perfectly balanced, with a gently rounded chest, long stylized wings and tail, and sturdy feet that plant it firmly on the ground. The clean, flowing silhouette is the ideal canvas for Magaly’s extraordinary painting.
Magaly covers every feather with impossibly detailed patterns: tiny fretwork, ancient-style grecas, and delicate lines that echo traditional Zapotec textiles. The palette is dazzling: turquoise, teal, amber, violet, lime green, and golden yellow, yet perfectly harmonious. The wide tail and wings are divided into colorful “panels,” each one with its own motif, so the owl becomes a tapestry of miniature designs.
The face is simply spectacular. Radiant sunflower-like eyes, ringed with fine dots and lines, seem to glow from within, while the lavender and fuchsia chest feathers create a soft frame around the bright orange beak. From every angle, this owl feels alive, wise, and slightly magical.
