Preserving a Millennial Tradition of Polychrome Clay
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Preserving a Millennial Tradition of Polychrome Clay
Preservando una Tradición Milenaria del Barro Policromado
The Art of Patricia Castillo, Soledad Martha Hernández de Castillo, and Paul Jolet.
Opening Reception: November 14, 2026, 5–7 PM
Exhibition Dates: November 14–December 7, 2026
This exhibition will be featured as part of the Austin Studio Tour, a citywide event taking place over the weekends of November 14–15 and November 21–22, 2026.
Traditional & Innovative Fine Folk Art
This exhibition presents traditional and innovative folk art, handmade in ceramic and painted with acrylics. The works feature detailed ancient glyphs, vibrant colors, and designs inspired by nature. Folk-art clay sculpture remains a vital way of keeping traditions and culture alive, ensuring that the stories and knowledge of the past continue to shape the present.
Patricia Castillo and Paul Jolet have been practicing fine folk art for more than 25 years. Patricia is a fourth-generation folk artist whose family roots are in Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, Mexico, where the Castillo family has created traditional sculptures—including the celebrated Tree of Life (Árbol de la Vida) candelabra—for more than 250 years.
In 1998, shortly after marrying Patricia, Paul began his apprenticeship with the Castillo family. Recognizing his natural ability to work with clay, the family invited him to study the art under the guidance of Alfonso Castillo Orta, Soledad Martha Hernandez de Castillo, and their sons and daughters. Patricia and Paul continue to collaborate closely, combining traditional knowledge with new ideas and approaches to form and aesthetics.
Soledad Martha Hernandez de Castillo worked with Alfonso to develop the art as we currently see it from the Castillo family over 6 decades while raising a family of five children. She began to design new Trees of Life and other artworks that she would dream about. Often waking up in the wee hours of the morning to create rough examples of her visions. These works were well received in national contests often winning the top prize. She has shared her vision and passion with her children and her son-in-law and daughters-in-law so they may bring forward her joy into the next generations. We are proud and honored to have our Gran Maestra join us in this event. It is because of her that we are artists today. While she still lives in my childhood home in Izucar de Matamoros, I can hear her voice saying, “Do your best in whatever you do.”
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life (Árbol de la Vida) is rooted in Mexico’s long history of clay sculpture and draws inspiration from pre-Hispanic cultures, including the Olmec, Toltec, and Teotihuacan traditions.
The Árbol de la Vida serves as a canvas for narratives about life, history, ancestry, and culture. These sculptures may portray traditions and celebrations such as Día de los Muertos, church festivities, the Nativity, and the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe, while also exploring contemporary themes such as the protection of Mother Earth and nature.
Through this evolving art form, each sculpture becomes a storyteller—honoring ancestors and traditions while creating new narratives that reflect the challenges, experiences, and triumphs of the present.
About La Peña
Nestled in the heart of downtown Austin, La Peña Gallery is a beloved nonprofit cultural hub dedicated to amplifying diverse voices through the visual arts. Since its founding in 1981, La Peña has been a cornerstone for both established and emerging artists, providing an inclusive space where art, music, and community come together.
Throughout the year, our gallery presents exhibitions, performances, workshops, and educational programs that celebrate Austin’s rich and diverse Latino cultural landscape.
We invite you to visit La Peña, discover the artists who help shape our community, and explore the gallery’s impact as a grassroots organization connecting art with social justice, history, and cultural heritage.
Admission is always free, and everyone is welcome.
About Austin Studio Tour
The Austin Studio Tour will take place over 2 weekends in November. This will allow audiences to choose between weekends and regions and plan accordingly. Also, artists from each region can support, visit, and enjoy the tour on their free weekend!
Austin Studio Tour is a free, city-wide event that invites the public into working artists’ studios, galleries, and creative spaces across the city. Anyone can browse listings online and in our print guide to find unique locations to visit, purchase art, learn about the creative process, and meet Austin’s most talented artists. For artists, the tour is a chance to give people a behind-the-scenes look into their process and build lasting support for what they do.
Preservando una Tradición Milenaria del Barro Policromado
The Art of Patricia Castillo, Soledad Martha Hernández de Castillo, and Paul Jolet.
Opening Reception: November 14, 2026, 5–7 PM
Exhibition Dates: November 14–December 7, 2026
This exhibition will be featured as part of the Austin Studio Tour, a citywide event taking place over the weekends of November 14–15 and November 21–22, 2026.
Traditional & Innovative Fine Folk Art
This exhibition presents traditional and innovative folk art, handmade in ceramic and painted with acrylics. The works feature detailed ancient glyphs, vibrant colors, and designs inspired by nature. Folk-art clay sculpture remains a vital way of keeping traditions and culture alive, ensuring that the stories and knowledge of the past continue to shape the present.
Patricia Castillo and Paul Jolet have been practicing fine folk art for more than 25 years. Patricia is a fourth-generation folk artist whose family roots are in Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, Mexico, where the Castillo family has created traditional sculptures—including the celebrated Tree of Life (Árbol de la Vida) candelabra—for more than 250 years.
In 1998, shortly after marrying Patricia, Paul began his apprenticeship with the Castillo family. Recognizing his natural ability to work with clay, the family invited him to study the art under the guidance of Alfonso Castillo Orta, Soledad Martha Hernandez de Castillo, and their sons and daughters. Patricia and Paul continue to collaborate closely, combining traditional knowledge with new ideas and approaches to form and aesthetics.
Soledad Martha Hernandez de Castillo worked with Alfonso to develop the art as we currently see it from the Castillo family over 6 decades while raising a family of five children. She began to design new Trees of Life and other artworks that she would dream about. Often waking up in the wee hours of the morning to create rough examples of her visions. These works were well received in national contests often winning the top prize. She has shared her vision and passion with her children and her son-in-law and daughters-in-law so they may bring forward her joy into the next generations. We are proud and honored to have our Gran Maestra join us in this event. It is because of her that we are artists today. While she still lives in my childhood home in Izucar de Matamoros, I can hear her voice saying, “Do your best in whatever you do.”
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life (Árbol de la Vida) is rooted in Mexico’s long history of clay sculpture and draws inspiration from pre-Hispanic cultures, including the Olmec, Toltec, and Teotihuacan traditions.
The Árbol de la Vida serves as a canvas for narratives about life, history, ancestry, and culture. These sculptures may portray traditions and celebrations such as Día de los Muertos, church festivities, the Nativity, and the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe, while also exploring contemporary themes such as the protection of Mother Earth and nature.
Through this evolving art form, each sculpture becomes a storyteller—honoring ancestors and traditions while creating new narratives that reflect the challenges, experiences, and triumphs of the present.
About La Peña
Nestled in the heart of downtown Austin, La Peña Gallery is a beloved nonprofit cultural hub dedicated to amplifying diverse voices through the visual arts. Since its founding in 1981, La Peña has been a cornerstone for both established and emerging artists, providing an inclusive space where art, music, and community come together.
Throughout the year, our gallery presents exhibitions, performances, workshops, and educational programs that celebrate Austin’s rich and diverse Latino cultural landscape.
We invite you to visit La Peña, discover the artists who help shape our community, and explore the gallery’s impact as a grassroots organization connecting art with social justice, history, and cultural heritage.
Admission is always free, and everyone is welcome.
About Austin Studio Tour
The Austin Studio Tour will take place over 2 weekends in November. This will allow audiences to choose between weekends and regions and plan accordingly. Also, artists from each region can support, visit, and enjoy the tour on their free weekend!
Austin Studio Tour is a free, city-wide event that invites the public into working artists’ studios, galleries, and creative spaces across the city. Anyone can browse listings online and in our print guide to find unique locations to visit, purchase art, learn about the creative process, and meet Austin’s most talented artists. For artists, the tour is a chance to give people a behind-the-scenes look into their process and build lasting support for what they do.
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Where is it happening?
227 Congress Ave, Austin, TX, United States, Texas 78701
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherLa Peña
