Santa Suavitel

Original Artwork by Yvette Trujillo

Ceramic and Grout

Measures 20” x 13” x 3” 

“As a Chicana artist, my identity is shaped by a blend of cultural Catholicism and the traditions passed down through my family. My parents, both artisans, my mother in textiles, my father in construction have taught me to value labor, resourcefulness, and care. These lessons ground my practice in ceramics.

This body of work draws from the traditions of milagros and ex-votos, offerings of gratitude and symbols of hope. I created clay shrines adorned with Mexican motifs and tiles, reminiscent of the material language of laborers. In the center of each piece, I’ve placed familiar household cleaning products such as Fabuloso, Clorox, and Ajax, reimagined as saints. These items, cherished across households, become devotional objects: vessels of care, ritual, and survival. These products are tools of resilience, tied to the dignity of working-class life.”

Please note that due to everyone’s monitor displaying differently, the colors you see may vary.