Carver, sculptor and painter, Manuel Jimenez Ramirez was born on December 9, 1919, near Oaxaca. He began creating figurines from clay as a young boy and gradually switched to carving the figures from wood. Self-taught, he is thought to be the originator of the Oaxacan (wood) style of "alebrijes"* Besides the alebrijes, Jimenez Ramirez also created nativity scenes, human figures, masks, etc. He was thought by some to be a curandero or shaman and some even thought he was a nahual or one who can transform into an animal form.
His creations were painted with bright colors and often had hair, beads, etc., added. Jimenez Ramirez' work is included in collections both private and public in the US and Mexico. Fomento Cultural Banamex named Manuel Jimenez Ramirez a "grand master". His two sons carry on his unique art after his death at 86.
*Alebrijes: brightly colored Mexican folk art figurines, traditionally made of cartoneria or hard paper mache.
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