Puebla and Michoacán artisans win awards at National Popular Art Grand Prix

Artisans from the Mexican states of Puebla and Michoacán received significant recognition at the 51st edition of the ‘Gran Premio Nacional de Arte Popular 2026’. The competition, organized by the Mexican Secretariat of Culture and the National Fund for the Promotion of Handicrafts (Fonart), celebrated the preservation of ancestral techniques across various categories including textiles, pottery, ceramics, stonework, and lapidary arts.

In Puebla, several artisans secured top positions. Maribel Santos Secundino from Naupan earned second place in industrial fabric embroidery for her ‘Quexquémetl’ piece, which utilizes natural dyes like cochineal and indigo. Donato Cruz Toribio from Zautla took second place in glazed clay, while Edit Pacheco Carrillo from Zapotitlán earned third place in burnished clay. In the stonework and lapidary category, Cristian Mena Fernández and Jorge Luis Ochoa Popoca secured second and third places respectively for their works crafted from carved black basalt.

Michoacán also demonstrated significant cultural diversity and talent, securing numerous awards during the ceremony.