Dylan Hernandez, part of the renowned Juan Hernandez family of Metepec ceramic artists, reimagines the Tree of Life, transforming its branches into a lively celebration of the animal world.
At the heart of the piece, a toucan perches within a flowered archway, its beak, wings, and banded chest ablaze with vivid, layered colors, making it the star of the scene. Below, deer and a spotted leopard weave through the upper branches, while the middle tier bursts with a gazelle, a striped zebra, and tiny yellow birds nestled among monarch butterflies and blooming roses.
An elephant and giraffe anchor the base, surrounded by a lush setting of teal and pink flowers and sweeping green leaves. The giraffe’s spots and the elephant’s tusks are rendered with exquisite detail, a signature of the workshop’s artistry. A deep purple backdrop makes the animals pop, while a sun and crescent moon at the top continue the celestial motif found in every Metepec tree, even when nature takes center stage. Every animal and flower is carefully hand-molded, then wired onto the trunk before being fired and painted by hand. This meticulous process is the hallmark of every creation from this workshop.p.
This radiant Arbol de la Vida, handcrafted in the Hernandez family’s Metepec workshop, dazzles with its vibrant colors and intricate details.
