Omar Hernández Sculptures

The word tzompantli or tzompantle comes from the Náhuatl (Aztec) language and means skull rack or scaffold of skulls. In different Mesoamerican cultures, skulls from the sacrificed w...

"As a Mexican and Oaxacan, but more as Omar, I see death as something present. It´s something that is a part of life and when you think about death, you begin to value a lot of things. Death is important to me because it’s a constant threat. If you think about dying now, you would probably do things that in another moment you would say, “I’ll do it later.” I see death as an opportunity to live a better life...a continuation of something," says Mexican ceramist Omar Hernández. Omar Hernandez is a Mexican ceramist born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico. As a child, growing up in a family of potters he didn't have much interest in making pottery, but in his early 20's he realized he could do other things with clay that weren't necessarily utilitarian pieces. It was then that Omar started his skull...

“I like the smell of the holy leaf. It’s a part of cuisine, medicine, and our traditions, and I really enjoy its texture. The other day I was eating a tamale and removed the holy lea...

This astonishing 160 cm tall corn assemblage is made up of authentic ceramic corn cob reproductions. These are dyed using grana cochineal ( a scale insect from which the natural dye carmine is derived -- usually growing on cactus plant). The corn cobs are united by a wire to hang down. Take tradition to evolve, transform, and innovate are all part of Omar Hernández...

“My purpose in making this skull is to represent the different types of native maize that since remote times have brought food security to our ancestors, giving them the time to develop the knowledge and arts to the extent they did,” says Mexican ceramist Omar Hernández...

Imagine a drink only drunk in weddings between royalty, accompanying the dead in their transit to the underworld, and celebrating military victories or successful commercial expediti...

You can almost smell the spicy aroma of the chilies in this skull. Mexican artist, Omar Hernández creates a vivid representation of the ingredient that ...