This extraordinary cat by Emmanuel Ramirez shows why he is one of the most accomplished painters working in Oaxacan wood carving today. The sculpture itself is graceful and alert, with tall ears, an elegant seated posture, and a long striped tail that gives the figure a wonderful sense of movement.
What makes the piece exceptional is the painting. Emmanuel works with brilliant magenta, turquoise, coral, rose, and deep plum, building a design that feels almost optical. Hexagons, spirals, interlocking lines, and carefully shaded geometric forms create the illusion of depth, so that parts of the painted surface appear carved, layered, or raised even though they are flat. The effect changes as the cat is viewed from different angles.
The ears are especially striking, with stepped geometric motifs that recall traditional Indigenous textile designs from the Americas, reinterpreted here within Emmanuel’s very contemporary visual language. Across the body, his control of color and perspective turns pattern into structure. The painting does not sit on the carving. It seems to reshape it.
Hand-carved from copal wood and meticulously hand-painted in Oaxaca, this authentic alebrije brings together traditional craftsmanship, Op Art, and a highly personal approach to color and geometry. It is a remarkably innovative piece by an artist whose painting continually pushes Oaxacan wood carving in new directions.
