Art Shops & Galeries

POLL
Which Oaxaca handicraft would you buy next?
	Pottery
	Ceramics
	Textile
	Woodwork

Shopping for handicraft in Oaxaca is a real treat. The selection is immense and the quality and value is unmatched. Everything you buy in Oaxaca is made in surrounding towns and villages.

There are several markets in Oaxaca itself, as well as a plethora of craft shops and ambulant vendors. The boutiques along Andador Turistico and around the Santo Domingo temple are more touristy, but many stores in the more popular districts south of the Zocalo, and in the handicraft marketplace, offer wide selections at often much lower prices. Do shop around for the best quality.

Some of our favorite shops:

Arte Mexicano on Macedonio Alcala, across the square form the the Santo Domingo temple. Offers finely carved sculptures in wood, magnificent carpets, and the entrancing, thick, hand-blown glass studded with tiny imperfections that is typical of Mexico. Have a look at their crystal cups, with bulbous stems and navy-blue rims and bases.

La Mano Mágica 203 Calle M. Alcalá; ++52-951/64275. Quality crafts from all over.

Aripo 809 Calle García Vigil; ++52-951/44030. A showcase for the state's most inspired craftspeople.

Liis Laah-Di 119 Avda. Juárez, Teotitlán del Valle; ++52-952/44132. Demonstrations of wool-making and weaving, plus heaps of rugs for sale.

Pepe Santiago 12 Álvaro Obregón, Arrazola; ++52-951/71394. For alebrijes (copal-wood carvings).

Casa de Artesianias. This store doubles as an exhibit run by the government, displaying samples of most of Oaxacan traditional artwork and craft. There are about 6 or 7 different rooms in this shop, each dedicated to an handicraft.

Jewelry is plentiful, too, though quality varies widely. Most humble are milagros, beribboned silvery charms sold next to Basilica de Soledad that represent afflicted body parts to be treated with prayer--buy a heart to ease a heartache. Kanda (Calle 5 de Mayo 209) is a private workshop where Frenchwoman Brigitte Huet uses a lost wax technique to create sterling silver and gold pieces inspired by Aztec, Mayan and Mixtec motifs.

And of course, the largest marketplace in town is the Central de Abastos. Big market day is Saturday, but every day of the week you'll find activity there.

Learn About Oaxaca Crafts

If you are really serious in buying handicraft, consider droping by the small village of Ocotlan de Morelos on a Friday, or visit one of the villages in the valley of Oaxaca than specializes in the kind of artcraft you are interested in.