Jesus Hernandez Torres is an artisan from the village of San Martin Tilcajete Ocotlan, Oaxaca, Mexico; He was born on October 15^th of 1977, his parents were Juan Hernandez Cruz and Zoila Torres Perez, he was the 6^th kid in a family of 7 children.

Artisanal Background:

Since he was a little kid he grew up in an artisanal traditional family, he is a 3rd generation member of the “Family Hernandez” dedicated to wood carving, he learned this art of his grandparents, father, and uncles.  At the age of 8, he started working in the workshop of his uncle Francisco Hernandez Cruz, known artisan, where he learned to create his own pieces, such as miniature crocodiles, little by little he grew in mastering the art of wood carving. At the age of 20, he became independent and started his own workshop “Copal Magico”; with the collaboration of his wife Roxana Ortega Fabian he has been able to develop his own style: figures of carved wood with fine decorations that have a unique style and techniques.

In 2007 he was invited to participate as a treasurer of the artisans community board of Tilcajete, this organization is the one in charge to promote the artesanias of the village to make them known in other places, as well as getting new markets to display their art.

Professional Career and Art Expositions

In 2007 the collective displays of San Martin Tilcajete started during the spring break season, Guelaguteza, Dead day and the Fair Display Alebrije in December, participating consecutively in each one of them since 2007 to the day.

Also, he has participated in the displays that were organized by the Government of the state in collaboration with the Oaxaca Institute of Artesanias, in the city of Oaxaca.

April 2012- Exposition in the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Puebla.

August 2012- Exposition in Mexico City in the “Coloquio Internacional de las artesanias 2012”.

October 2014- Exposition in Brasilia and Curitiba, Brazil “Oaxaca Cultural Display” from October 30th to November 17th in Mexico City.

March 2016- Display of his collection “Hands and Soul of Oaxaca” in the National Museum of Popular Cultures in Mexico City.

November 2016- Exposition in the American college in Mexico City.

November 2016- Exposition “Masters of Popular Art” in the Club Yates, in Chapala, Jalisco.

February 2017- Exposition ENART in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico.

Awards

August 2013- Honorific mention in the XIII state Prize Benito Juarez, with the piece “Guerra de Dioses”.

September 2014- First place in the 4th National Contest of Popular Mexican Toys, in the section of carved wood with the piece “Loteria Mexicana”.

November 2014- First place in the XXI edition of the National Contest of Mexican Nacimientos (representations of Christ birth) in the category of carved wood.

December 2014- First place in the IX State Contest of Nacimientos Oaxaca in the category of carved wood.

December 2014- First place in the 4th Contest of Popular Toy Oaxaca 2014.

December 2015- Second place in the 5th Contest of Popular Toy Oaxaca 2015.

March 2016- Publishing of his book “Manos y Alma de Oaxaca”. Book where he mentions other outstanding artisans of Oaxaca and they creations.

August 2016- Second place in the XVI State Contest Benito Juarez.

February 2017- ENART National Award 2017.