Dust We Are: Mexican Pottery at Hotel Xcaret Arte

From June 4 to September 4, 2026, Hotel Xcaret Arte presents Dust We Are, an exhibition curated by Atenas Beltrán Uriz, Manager of Arts Promotion at Hotel Xcaret Arte. This exhibition showcases a selection of Mexican pottery pieces created by artists from different regions of the country. Here, we share all the details so you don’t miss it.

“Dust We Are”, The New Mexican Pottery Exhibition at Hotel Xcaret Arte

Pottery is an ancestral practice that has accompanied humankind since ancient times. In different cultures, there is even a belief that we were created from a special kind of clay, brought to life by a divine breath.

That is why clay reminds us of how fleeting and unpredictable existence can be, inviting us to enjoy every moment, every shape, and every detail, because dust we are, and to dust we shall return.

Dust We Are is one of the new exhibitions at Hotel Xcaret Arte, bringing together a selection of pieces from the private collection of Arq. Miguel Quintana Pali, along with works by two guest artists: Luis García and Fernanda Figueroa.

The exhibition presents different artistic expressions that engage with clay as a material, technique, and creative language.

Through this curatorial proposal, visitors are invited on a journey through time and space: from the decorative vessels of Juana Gómez, the black clay of Carlo Magno, and the ceramics of Mata Ortiz, to the burnished clay of José Luis García and the beautiful containers of Fernanda Figueroa. Each piece reveals a different way of transforming earth into object, memory, and expression.

Technical Information About “Dust We Are: Mexican Pottery”

Exhibition dates: June 4 to September 4, 2026

Opening: June 4 at 6:30 p.m.

Location: Jardín del Arte at Hotel Xcaret Arte

Special Events Celebrating The Arrival Of “Dust We Are”

In addition to the opening of Dust We Are on June 4 at Jardín del Arte, the exhibition will also be accompanied by a series of exclusive events for guests of Hotel Xcaret Arte.

Special Workshop Led By Mexican Ceramic Artist Ana Figueroa

Location: Casa Pirámide at Hotel Xcaret Arte

Dates:

Thursday, June 4: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friday, June 5: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 6: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Cost: $3,000 MXN per person

LIMITED CAPACITY: 10 people per class. You can reserve your spot at the Casa Pirámide Pottery Workshop.

Special Conference Led By José Luis García, Oaxacan Artist And Sculptor

Friday, June 5: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

About Ana Figueroa And José Luis García, Guest Artists In “Dust We Are”

Ana Fernanda Figueroa Mertens

Ceramic artist

A Mexican artist dedicated to contemporary ceramics and the creation of sculptural ritual objects.

Her practice explores the relationship between matter, sound, intention, and consciousness, drawing inspiration from Mesoamerican art and from the symbolic potential of objects as tools for presence and transformation.

In 2021, she moved to Oaxaca to deepen her ceramic practice, working with clay from the Pitao Cophycha workshop and in dialogue with the traditional processes of Santa María Atzompa.

Since 2022, she has been developing N.A.A.S.A.F., a sculptural series based on six fundamental energies: Nature, Art, Love, Health, Abundance, and Fortune. Her pieces propose a sensory activation through sound, gesture, and perception.

Her work has been presented in galleries and cultural spaces in Mexico and China, including Bomboti Gallery, Qiumo Art Gallery, and Yi Gallery, where she completed an artistic residency in Longquan, China. She currently lives and works in Mexico City.

José Luis García

Mixtec painter

A self-taught Oaxacan painter and sculptor, trained in the workshops of Arturo García Bustos, Arnold Belkin, and Luis Nishizawa. He is the founder of the Polvo de Agua Arts and Crafts Workshop.

His work has been presented in spaces such as the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Mexico City, Casa de los Oficios Santillana del Mar in Spain, the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Oaxaca, and Casa Lamm in Mexico City. In 2011, he received the Talent and Social Commitment Award granted by Endeavor Aguascalientes.

José Luis García’s work is rooted in his Oaxacan heritage and in a deep connection with the earth, using clay and natural pigments as essential elements of his artistic practice.

Among his most representative techniques is burnished clay, through which he creates murals and sculptures made of molded clay, colored with natural earths and minerals, integrating tradition, matter, and memory into each piece.

Hotel Xcaret Arte: A Sanctuary For Artful Recreation

Polvo Somos is part of the temporary exhibitions program by Arts Promotion at Hotel Xcaret Arte. During your stay, you can visit this exhibition at no additional cost and enrich your experience through artistic proposals that celebrate creativity, technique, and artistic expression.

In addition to its exhibitions, Hotel Xcaret Arte offers a variety of art-focused experiences, such as immersive workshops in painting, Latin dance, textiles, and pottery. All of them are included as part of your stay, allowing you to explore new techniques, connect with traditional materials, and discover different ways to express your creative side.

Learn more about the workshops at Hotel Xcaret Arte.