The underside of this West Mexican vessel reveals the fanged jaws of a personified sacred cave. This supernatural scene is part of a story of creation that unfolds across the surface, depicting the epic origins of a Mesoamerican birth and water ritual. Artists across many cultures have harnessed the sculptural features of three-dimensional ceramics to tell essential stories. Gerardo Monterrubio covers his robust porcelains with muralistic renderings, using the curves, crevices, and cracks to transition between dream-like scenes. Puño de Tierra weaves together his experiences grieving the deaths of his Zapotec grandmother and his dog Happy with other explorations of death and mourning.

BELOW: Monterrubio discusses the imagery on Puño de Tierra in this video (runtime 1:44). 

View additional videos about Monterrubio’s artistic practice as well as videos about four other artists in the show.