About the Artist

Juan de Dios Sánchez, from MD to Raku Guru

Juan de Dios Sánchez

Juan de Dios Sánchez is a Mexican ceramist who has taken the Raku firing technique to a level unmatched by any other ceramic artist in the world. Each piece of his work represents the magnificent evolution that the artist and his team have achieved at the highest level.

Raku pottery is a type of Japanese ceramics (originating in the 16th century) known for its quick firing process and unpredictable effects. It emphasizes simplicity, imperfect beauty, and values the connection between the artist, the clay, and the fire.

After nearly twenty years of sending almost all of his high-end ceramic production to distribution companies in Europe, now days Juan de Dios Sánchez is targeting a broader market.

Juan Sánchez grew up surrounded by art and medicine; his father, a doctor, was always interested in art, and Juan began drawing and painting at a young age. He pursued a medical career and received the Gabino Barreda medal, awarded to the country's best medical student. His specialization in anesthesiology took him to work in various hospitals in London. After 17 years dedicated to medicine, he decided to make a dimensional leap and return to his artistic roots to become a ceramist.

Talent, dedication, and a magical touch

Before opening his ceramics studio in Cuernavaca, Morelos, he learned Raku pottery at a production studio in Healdsburg, California. Back in Mexico, he continued his work with ceramics and quickly surpassed standard expectations, creating pieces with sliding casting techniques and the magic of Raku firing. He became a pioneer and positioned himself as the world's foremost Raku workshop.

Juan de Dios Sánchez achieves exceptional pieces by incorporating high-purity metal oxides such as silver and copper, up to 98% purity, which are essential to many of his works. Raku has become a trend for those seeking ceramic pieces of original beauty with the exotic allure of ancient Eastern art.