Rosa Salazar & Miguel Aviles

Punto y arte

Ceramicist

©Artesanías de Colombia

The possibilities in clay

Ceramics is both a lifestyle and a source of income for Rosa and Miguel
Pointillism is one of the prominent techniques of their work
They are always seeking new ways to improve their pieces

Rosa Salazar and Miguel Aviles grew up in clay, and clay brought them together. Their families were artisans and they sourced their income from selling the products they made. In fact, Rosa’s mother, Mrs. Ninfa Salazar, is one of the best shiners in La Chamba: she skillfully and patiently rubs the black pots that are characteristic of this town of Tolima to give them the finish that has made them famous. Rosa and Miguel both started crafting wares from a very young age. It was what they had to do to get out of poverty. Nowadays, their handcrafted objects are some of the most emblematic in Colombia.

Interview

©Artesanías de Colombia

©Artesanías de Colombia

When did you open your workshop?: When we got married. It was very hard for us to start, since we worked for other people at the time but we decided to set out on our own nonetheless. We needed to support our five children.
Do you master any specific techniques?: We learned the technique of pointillism from designers who worked with us in 2016. Together, we looked for a way to introduce aesthetic elements to traditional clay pots. It was not an easy task, because these crafts had never received any modification. But it worked very well.
Where can we see innovation in your work?: We enjoy innovating the designs of our products. This has led us to continue to try new techniques, like washing and combing. We wash ceramics with foam, or comb them with large, thin brushes and metal bristles to obtain new textures.
What do you love most about your profession?: We love the way our trade has evolved in such a simple way and has allowed us to gather everything we know, everything we have, and everything we are. We also love to meet new people who are interested in our beautiful craft.

Rosa Salazar & Miguel Aviles are master artisans: they began their career in 1987 and they started teaching in 1997