Harmonizing Mexican & Japanese Artistry in Luxury Pottery

Kirei Barro Estudio emerges from the harmonious vision of Gorky González and Santiago Balmaceda, who embarked on a journey to fuse two distinctive art forms into a singular masterpiece: Japanese expressionism and Mexican majolica ceramics.

Majolica ceramics, a technique introduced to Mexico during the Spanish conquest, heralded a pivotal moment in the annals of local pottery. This venerable technique, characterized by its intricate glazing and painting of high-temperature pieces, flourished in various regions across the nation, including Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Puebla, and Tlaxcala.

It is imperative to acknowledge that prior to the Spanish arrival, such ceramics were nonexistent throughout the Americas. The artistry of majolica ceramics, along with its meticulous processes of glazing, painting, and firing at elevated temperatures, was bequeathed by European colonizers and later embraced and refined by Mexican artisans.

In Guanajuato, the legacy of majolica ceramics had languished for nearly a century until the indomitable spirit of Master Gorky González Quiñones rekindled its flame within his workshop. His unwavering dedication to preserving and revitalizing this time-honored technique earned him the esteemed Prize of Arts and Sciences in the realm of Arts and Popular Traditions in 1992—an accolade bestowed only once in a lifetime and reserved for the most exceptional contributions to the field.

Throughout his illustrious career, Gorky González journeyed to Japan, where he apprenticed under eminent masters such as Tsuji Seimei, who imparted upon him the ancient technique of shigaraky, and Kei Fijiwara, with whom he delved into the intricacies of karatzu, oribe, and tenmocouk. It was in Japan where he also encountered Toshiko Ono, his future wife, and together, they returned to Mexico to establish Gorky González's renowned workshop.

Crucially, Kirei Barro Estudio, under the stewardship of Gorky González and Santiago Balmaceda, epitomizes a distinctive collaboration that transcends the confines of Gorky González's workshop. While united by a shared passion for majolica ceramics, Kirei stands as an autonomous entity, synergistically collaborating with the workshop to imbue their creations with an innovative flair. As Gorky González Balmaceda eloquently expresses, "Initially, I struggled to envision the project when Santi approached me. However, our inaugural exhibition marked a transformative moment, underscoring the feasibility of integrating these two art forms. Collaborating with the workshop and infusing a fresh perspective through Kirei promises to be an unparalleled experience."