Luis Cortez
Master Craftsman
the recognition of contests, but the most rewarding thing to me is the recognition I get here, in the workshop. There are people who stay two or three hours, and I can sense how they leave feeling grateful. To me, at this point of my life, that is the most important”.
Burnished
Mud
Burnished mud is the oldest technique. Its name is given because of the technique used to obtain the piece´s glow. It is also known as the mother technique because it preserves pre-Hispanic characteristics in the production process. It belongs to one of the oldest branches of pottery.
It is the technique from which others derive. The pieces elaborated using it have a shiny and smooth aspect…
Luis Cortez
Master Crafstman of Burnished Mud
He was born in Tepatitlán, he is one of the most prolific and current artisans of Tonalá. He is a remarkable representation of the continuity and reinvention of the tradition. Unlike other artisans from the town, Luis Cortez does not come from a potter’s family but his career of more than three decades and the mastery in decoration and finishing of his pieces have turned him into a reference in the world of Burnished Mud. Nowadays Luis Cortez is recognized as a great master in the craftsmanship of the Mexican popular art and as a specialist of millennium-old techniques such as burnished mud.