This small-sized clay and hand-painted Lady of Guadalupe sit on a colourful pedestal painted in the typical colours and designs of the state of Puebla. Two birds stand at either side of the base and as with most Guadalupe decor, a cherub angel sits directly below her. 

The statuettes of our Lady of Guadalupe closely relate to the event of December 9, 1531, when, according to legend, the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego, a native of Cuauhtitlan. The apparition of the Virgin requested that a church be built on the hill of Tepeyac, and in repayment, she provided Juan with a cloak of protection. This event had a great impact on Mexicans, and to this day, 20 million people from all over the world make a pilgrimage to the Virgin of Guadalupe annually. Over time, she has become less of a religious symbol and more of a cultural symbol. The iconic lore bleeds into many artworks and is portrayed creatively as a symbol of long-standing cultural and queer identity. 

Saul Montesinos has been creating Day of the Dead artworks from clay in the style of well-known Castillo work for as long as he can remember. He first began his work as a young boy in his father’s workshop, but as his father aged, Saul took over the family business. He has now made a name for himself through his work, which is created only in Izúcar de Matamoros, Mexico. 

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