Esperanza Felipe Mulato and Jorge: Keeping Mischief Alive  in Clay 

There’s no mistaking a devil from Ocumicho. With its bulging eyes, mischievous grin, and wild,  multicolored body caught mid-dance or dangling from a fiery scene, it practically leaps off the  shelf with laughter and life. These fantastic creatures, part satire and part spirit, are the heart of  one of Mexico’s most iconic folk art traditions. And among the artists who keep this playful  legacy burning are Esperanza Felipe Mulato and her relative Jorge, two ceramicists whose  hands mold not just clay, but entire worlds. 

Esperanza has spent decades shaping devils, angels, and dreamlike scenes that blur the line  between the everyday and the otherworldly. Her work is known for its expressive faces, layered  storytelling, and bold use of color—features that have become signatures of Ocumicho’s famous  style. She often draws from local customs, festivities, and even daily village life, embedding her  figures with humor, cautionary tales, and cultural memory. 

Jorge, a younger member of the family, brings a fresh and daring twist to the tradition. While  deeply respectful of the form, his devils sometimes feel sharper, cheekier, more stylized— perhaps reflecting the perspective of a new generation raised in the same clay-rich soil but with  eyes on the wider world. The collaboration between Esperanza and Jorge is not only familial, but  artistic: they inspire each other, sometimes work side by side, and share a commitment to  keeping the craft evolving without losing its soul. 

Their pieces are built entirely by hand using local clay, sculpted without molds and then painted  in vivid, high-contrast colors —fiery reds, acid greens, electric blues. The final firing gives them  their rustic, earthbound texture, grounding their surreal imagery in something tangible and real. 

But beyond the craftsmanship, it’s the imagination that makes their work stand out. Esperanza  and Jorge’s devils don’t just exist for decoration—they act out scenes. One might be riding a chicken. Another is tangled in a lovers’ quarrel. Some dance with angels or argue with skeletons.  There’s always a wink of humor, a twist of satire, and often a message hidden in the mischief. 

Their work has been shown in state fairs and folk art exhibitions, and their devils have  traveled far from Michoacán, landing in private collections, galleries, and museums. Yet both  artists remain rooted in Ocumicho, where clay is still shaped at kitchen tables, and artistic talent  is passed from hand to hand. 

In the hands of Esperanza Felipe Mulato and Jorge, the devils of Ocumicho are bold, joyful,  and deeply human. They remind us that art can be sacred and silly at once—that laughter, color,  and craft are powerful ways to tell stories that last.

Feria 2025

ARTIST INFORMATION:

Ocumicho, Charapan, Michoacan 60242 cel 35 1167 7921 tel 01 423 5199 424 jrhheli@icloud.com

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