The town of San José de Gracia is known for their endowment in clay. Thus, their decorative pieces have always been emblematic of the environment around them—the raw material for their art was sourced directly from local mountains. It is natural, then, that San José de Garcia would become the birthplace of “pastillaje,” a ceramic technique that has cultivated its own legacy within Mexican art. Thin strips of clay are pinched to create ornamental patterns, often to resemble the texture of pineapples or flowers. 

This sacred practice is central to Out of Office, the U.S. debut of Chihuahua-born artist José Bañuelos. Presented by Marva Studio, the exhibition positions artisan ceramics not as an artifact of history, but modern-day vessels for storytelling. Showing at Mathe’s design studio in Melrose Hill from May 8 through May 22, Bañuelos invites viewers out of the conventions of a traditional workshop, and into a playful presentation inspired by his own search for personal freedoms. 

While each piece plays with structure and form, they also experiment with color, boasting unique hues mixed with intention. “El Sol” and “La Luna” feature cherry red and high-gloss black, while the “Saturno” is finished in Marva’s signature tapioca en jacaranda glaze. “Luminaria Eclipse,” made in collaboration with LaLuisa, incorporates naturally-dyed, earthy pigments. The exhibition is crafted in collaboration with multigenerational ceramicists in San José Gracia, underscoring the community-driven innovation at the heart of Bañuelos’ work. 

Perhaps the most striking is the “Piña Anana Cempasúchil,” a 80-centimeter, pineapple-shaped sculpture that pays homage to the legacy of pastillaje ceramics. The piece captures Bañuelos’ marriage of heritage innovation evident throughout his work.

‍Marva Studio, Bañuelos’ Mexico-based design practice, will also debut their Casa Marva in Mexico City this May. The new space embodies Bañuelos’ longstanding principles of community-driven development, dedicated to exhibitions, artists collaborations and community programming.