Agustín Cruz Tinoco

Mexico

Year(s) attended: 2006, 2010

Fomento Cultural BANAMEX AC

Carving (Wood)

The hand-carved wooden figures that have brought Augustín Cruz Tinoco national recognition begin as blank pieces of pine, bursera, cedar or mahogany wood.

Augustín seeks to understand and exploit the natural forms and qualities of the wood. He then uses various knives, files, sandpaper, agave thorns, needles and paints to shape his brightly-painted and intricately-detailed “jaguar” boxes, religious figures, altar pieces and nativity scenes.

Born in a town of Oaxaca’s Mixe Sierra, Augustín has been practicing this folk art form since 1970, and has received awards in various state and national folk art competitions for his carved wooden pieces.