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Teodoro Ramirez Peña

Born in 1964 in the Peruvian city of Ayacucho, Teodoro Ramirez is a dedicated ceramist who specializes in creating beautiful retablos (dioramas), as well as an array of delicately crafted and designed pieces. His work carries the unmistakable characteristics of his beloved homeland where prickly pears flourish under the blue mountain sky.

"I am a retablista and ceramist, a traditional family craft, given that I am child of the Ayacucho region. My art represents and depicts the customs and beliefs of the Andes, revealing its people's emotions and finding even in them the smallest amount of goodness. Through years of contemplation I have discovered new directions for my art, a legacy to the work I have shared with my family since childhood.

"White and red clays are my primary materials, but on occasion I use plaster of Paris. Before I begin, I always make a sketch on paper. I prepare the clay first by washing all of its impurities away; it is then kneaded, shaped by hand and molded on the wheel until the design is complete. Ready, the piece goes into the kiln to be baked at a temperature of 1050º C (1922º F). Afterward, I apply latex or enamel paint, polish it, finishing with a wax bath so as to make it impermeable.

"I have participated in regional fairs and at The Museum of the Nation in Lima. In 1987, I was awarded first place in a competition organized by the National Institute of Culture (Ayacucho) for retablos and in 1986, I came second in a ceramics competition organized by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. My challenge now is to secure an individual exposition of my work in the capital, Lima. I feel that I am on my way to achieving this since my art has received praiseworthy interest. Finally, I want to say that my work is full of life and emotion because it is handmade, a testimony to my country and its culture."