Oaxacan woodcarving artist Michelle Fuentes has created a stunning rabbit sculpture that exudes quiet dignity and charm. The rabbit stands proudly, with ears reaching dramatically skyward, one straight and the other gently angled. Its body is full and rounded, with legs firmly planted and paws detailed down to tiny, individual claws.
What makes Michelle's painting truly spectacular is her decision to see the rabbit's body as a lovely garden. Instead of the traditional geometric patterns, she beautifully decorates the torso with a flowing, natural scene, vibrant macaws soaring, branches laden with autumn leaves, and tiny blossoms sprinkled over a warm, golden-yellow ground. It's more like a tiny mural than a pattern. Gentle geometric motifs beautifully frame the ears, haunches, and face, adding a lovely touch of grounding to the composition.
In Aztec cosmology, the rabbit,tochtli, was a lunar creature linked to abundance, fertility, and the cycles of the natural world.
The two macaws painted across the body truly stand out, each one beautifully detailed with individual feathers and wings spread wide. Their impressive size, comparable to a canvas masterpiece, makes them even more remarkable given their placement on the curved side of a wooden rabbit.
A warm, original, and quietly poetic piece from an artist who has found her own voice within the tradition.
