Lionel Barrios, the husband of Daysis Sanchez, joined the Sanchez family studio and produces beautiful vessels including many functional art pieces.
His etched work on a black background results in truly delightful works of art (see below).He was one of the few clay artists who responded to my requests for vessels with new shapes and surface finishes. In particular, I was looking for containers that would be fitting for the art of Japanese flower arranging, or ikebana. The photo at the top of this post shows two of his new shapes in progress. The finished products are illustrated above and below left.
His vessels include vasijas, ollas and cuencos with subjects ranging from animals, birds and plants from nature, to fantastical mythical creatures, to geometric surface illusions. He has one of the steadiest hands of all the artists in the small village of San Juan de Oriente, which results in etched and incised work of exquisite strength, clarity and precision.
Daysis and Lionel live just outside San Juan de Oriente, with their young son. They share studio and kiln space with other members of the Sanchez family.
Lionel's work is available at his home workshop, and at www.NicaArtGallery.com.
