Serene Frida

Gazing serenely into the eyes of the viewer, renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is accompanied by a yellow bird in this ceramic decorative plate. Maria Isabel Cruz uses the centuries-old dry rope technique, in which a wax mixture made of magnesium oxide and fat are applied to the outlines of the image or motif prior to glazing. The wax mixture creates a barrier that keeps the different fill colors in the design separate during firing, before burning off to reveal the blackened ceramic beneath. A length of nylon cord on the back provides for easy hanging.