Talavera Tiles

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the central Iberian town of Talavera de la Reina, Spain, became internationally renowned for ceramics. They called it “La Ciudad de la Cerámica,” or the “The City of Ceramics.” The Talavera style of design was the creation of Dutch and Arab cultures combining and eventually made its way to Mexico when Spanish monks called for craftsmen to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Talavera de la Reina to decorate the Church of Santo Domingo, in 1571. Today’s “True” Talavera tile and pottery comes from the rich black and white volcanic soils in and around Puebla, Mexico. Here the tradition and technique of hand-forming these tiles define this vivid craft. One of their most notable characteristics is the radial symmetry of the designs.
Our artists created their own Radial Symmetric artworks inspired by the Talavera Tiles.