Jesus Bautista

I feel I have a passion for my work. This has let me grow as a person and develop in every aspect of my life.

I'm Jesus Bautista Vazquez. I was born in the Zapotec town of Teotitlan del Valle in Oaxaca and, ever since I was a boy, I'd play at weaving rugs. So I began learning the art at an early age. My parents taught me.

"In my family, this has been a tradition since my grandparents' time. I'd watch how they'd transform colorful yarns into extraordinary rugs.

"In this work, one of the key skills is observation. When I began learning to weave, I discovered the challenge of concentration. You need to visualize in your mind what you want to create and how you want to share those details. But this is one of the parts of the process that I love — combining the colors as your inspiration reveals itself, little by little.

"The natural world surrounding our town is a powerful inspiration for me. To see it day by day is a great blessing. The sounds, the colors, the origins of this precious place and the legacy all of us residents here share, they all enrich me.

"I'm immensely grateful to my work because, through each design I create, I know myself better. I want to leave a part of myself in every one, to share how Mother Earth gives us what we need to express our passion through weaving.

"For me, it's just incredible how a piece of sheep wool can be transformed into beautiful décor accessories. It's as though the magic arises from your hands.

"Today, I'm teaching my wife, who takes care of dyeing the wool while I do the weaving.

"More than anything, I want to achieve designs that challenge my creativity and share them with more people. In this way, we help preserve this important Zapotec tradition."