Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz works on her latest clay sculpture.
Photo by Walter Larrimore, Smithsonian Institution
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz with one of her religious ceramic sculptures.
Photo by Michelle Arbeit, Smithsonian Institution
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz molds the clay into a pot which will later be fired in a kiln.
Photo by Joe Furgal, Smithsonian Institution
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz shapes a religious sculpture.
Photo by Amulya Mandava, Smithsonian Institution
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz works on her latest clay sculpture.
Photo by Walter Larrimore, Smithsonian Institution
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz smoothes her ceramic virgin sculpture.
Photo by Michelle Arbeit, Smithsonian Institution
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz interacts with children at the festival by showing them how to mold the clay.
Photo by Amy Vaughters, Smithsonian Institution
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz molds a piece for one of her clay sculptures.
Photo courtesy of Embassy of Colombia in Washington, D.C.
Rosa María Jeréz Ruíz comes from a family of potters. Although she learned traditional techniques from her mother, who supported the family with this craft, Rosa was inspired to create unique figurative and religious sculptures. She often sculpts her religious figures so that they have highland features. Rosa works in her home and sells her pieces to collectives and well-respected local vendors.
"They once said that I had rebelled because I stopped making the pots my mother used to make."
