An ambition for a clay tradition
- Juan Miguel is fascinated by the tactile, transformative nature of his craft
- The traditions of his town, El Puente del Arzobispo, inspire his work
- Many of his large-scale pieces are exhibited across Spain
At the age of ten, Juan Miguel Alía de Las Heras discovered clay as his greatest source of entertainment. After school, he would always go to his master Miguel de la Cal Martín's workshop, and later, he spent 17 years at the manufacturer of Andrés de la Cal Martín. “I fell in love with clay and with the potter’s wheel. I was fascinated by how, with just my hands, I could transform a simple lump of earth into something both useful and beautiful,” Juan Miguel explains. Since 2003, he has run his own workshop, Alfar Tiry, where he continues to work to this day in traditional wheel thrown pottery. "I specialise in creating large-scale pieces, such as storage jars, baptism fonts and oversized planters, which require a very refined technique,” Juan Miguel says.
Interview
- Why is El Puente del Arzobispo so important in your work?
- El Puente del Arzobispo is a town with centuries of pottery tradition. Here, ceramics are not just a craft, but an integral part of our identity and history. In fact, the ceramics of El Puente del Arzobispo were declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2019.
- What are you seeking to achieve through ceramics?
- What I do is give life to clay, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive while adding a personal, contemporary touch. I draw inspiration from the traditions of my town, from nature and from simple forms. I am also motivated by the idea of creating something that will endure over time.
- What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
- What I love most is seeing how unique pieces are born from a lump of clay. I particularly enjoy the direct contact with my hands and the wheel.
- Is your craft endangered?
- The craft remains at risk of disappearing if we cannot get younger generations interested in learning it. This recognition is an important step towards protecting it, but it needs greater visibility, more training and more support if it is truly not to be lost.
Juan Miguel Alía de Las Heras is a master artisan: he began his career in 1983 and he started teaching in 2010
Works
Where
Juan Miguel Alía de Las Heras
