7 Secrets of Mexican Woodcarving Art (+ Custom Alebrijes!)

San Martín Tilcajete

Alebrijes & Myth

In 2023, Asaya spent a full year in San Martín Tilcajete, a village in the Mexican state of Oaxaca known for its tradition of Alebrijes — hand-carved wooden spirit animals painted in colorful patterns. Under the guidance of local artists Airin Garcia and Benito Fabian, he learned not only carving and painting techniques, but also the cultural and spiritual significance behind this kind of art. These fantastical creatures, carved from Copal wood and painted with many colors, revealed the deeply spiritual and imaginative power of the Zapotec culture.

During this period, Asaya created a series of works that combined the Mexican style with mythologies from other parts of the world, including Norse and Egyptian stories. These cross-cultural sculptures became a reflection of his wider artistic vision — preserving and connecting endangered traditions through wood.

Works from Mexico

Spirit Animals & Legends

Mexican woodcarving sculpture of a bull handmade colorful wooden statue

Oaxaca, Mexico · 2023

Mexican Bull

Carved from Mexican Copal wood and painted in acrylic, this piece reflects the traditional crafting style of Mexican Alebrijes that Asaya learned in San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca. A tribute to Mexico's vibrant craft heritage and the art of spirit animals.

Request a Commission

Cross-Cultural · 2023

Fenrir — The Norse Wolf

Combining his own heritage with the techniques learned in Mexico, Asaya created this sculpture of Fenrir — the wolf from Norse mythology who was bound in chains by the gods out of fear of his power. While the entire myth of how Fenrir was bound into chains, as told in the Edda, is inscribed in Norse runes across the creature's body, along the roots, trunk, and branches of the World Tree, Yggdrasil, Asaya engraved the ancient prophecy of Ragnarök — the day Fenrir will break free and take vengeance on the gods.

While the wolf leans forward, howling out his rage and agony, the tree's roots coil around his legs and ankles, symbolizing the chains that bind him. Through this work, Asaya brought cultural storytelling and symbolism into his art for the first time, bringing to life ancient myths through wood.

Cross-Cultural · 2023

Ratatöskr — The Norse Messenger

After completing Fenrir, Asaya continued exploring Norse mythology with a new sculpture: Ratatöskr, the messenger squirrel. Once again, he inscribed the full myth — as found in the Edda — in Norse runes onto the figure itself. The text tells the story of how Ratatöskr races up and down the World Tree, carrying messages between the wise eagle sitting in its crown and the serpent at its roots.

By writing the myth directly into the creature's carved surface, Asaya continued his artistic journey of turning myth into form.

Ra the sun god handmade wooden sculpture

Cross-Cultural · 2023

Ra — The Kemetic Sun God

Following Ratatöskr, Asaya turned his attention to the ancient mythology of Kemet (Egypt) with a sculpture of Ra, the Sun God. This piece marks his first engagement with African spiritual traditions and contains hand-painted hieroglyphs from original Kemetic texts.

Inscribed in authentic hieroglyphs across the surface is the story of creation: how Ra emerged from the primeval waters of Nun, how the gods were born, and how Ra brought light into the world. By combining these ancient symbols with traditional Mexican carving and painting techniques, Asaya bridges not only cultures, but cosmologies — honoring the depth and dignity of the world's oldest creation myth.

Parrot mexican style wooden sculpture with colorful details in the alebrijes tradition of san martin tilcajete

Commission · 2023

Parrot & Deer — Two Spirit Animals

This commissioned work, created for a couple, features their two spirit animals: a Mexican parrot and a deer. To represent the energies and personalities of each partner, personal symbols were included and painted into this work. Carved from Copal wood and painted in the traditional Alebrije style, both sculptures contain many hidden motifs that only the couple will understand.

When placed in front of each other, the noses of the parrot and deer touch and form a pose of unity and connection. The piece is not only a pair of animals, but a portrait of two loving humans.

Request a Commission