Plastic artist Jesús Alcarazo, with a workshop in Alcalá de Guadaíra, has been awarded the Niculoso Pisano prize given by the namesake association along with the City Council of Seville during the Velá de Santa Ana.
Jesús Alcarazo, a plastic artist based in Alcalá de Guadaíra, has received the Niculoso Pisano award, a recognition granted by the Association of Friends of Niculoso Pisano Ceramics in collaboration with the City Council of Seville on the occasion of the Velá de Santa Ana. The award distinguishes his career in ceramics, particularly his work inspired by the pottery tradition of Triana.
“I am very happy and grateful,” Alcarazo declared from his workshop in Alcalá de Guadaíra, where he develops pieces that draw from the stylistic trends that marked the rise of Triana ceramics in the 18th century. The artist, who began his professional journey focused on painting and drawing, transitioned to ceramics in 2018 when he decided to explore this material as a vehicle for artistic expression.
“Since I was little, I had ceramics in my mind, but I had never found a place for it. I liked it, but I didn't see the work aspect,” he recalls. His first project was decorating his parents' house, with no intention of turning it into a business. However, commissions began to arrive, and little by little, he realised that “the path was open.”
He acquired his first notions in Antonio González's workshop in Mairena del Aljarafe. “I started making works for myself, which sold quickly. A friend commissioned me to decorate the façade of his dental clinic, which was a big project and helped me a lot,” he explains. From there, commissions followed, both from individuals and brotherhoods.
One of the milestones of his career came with the Brotherhood of the Esperanza de Triana, for which he has designed, painted, and created the entire ceramic concept of the Camarín de la Virgen, in the Chapel of the Mariners. “It was a surprise because the brotherhood leader called me at night and said he wanted a meeting to discuss my work,” he recounts. This project, which is still in development, has been key to his consolidation as a ceramist.
Despite not living or having his workshop in Triana, Alcarazo states that his mind is always thinking about the language of Triana ceramics, characterised by a fundamental colour: yellow. “The colour is the yellow of Triana, made up of different oxides. Each workshop gives it a different language, and the general public perceives it that way. It is muralist ceramics, not detailed, with a work closer to the concept of mural painting than to easel painting,” he details.
Another iconic element of this tradition is the lebrillos, pieces that today have no functional use but retain great decorative potential. “It is a piece that can be found in any house in Triana,” he points out.
Currently, Alcarazo is working on a project in Alcalá de Guadaíra similar to that of the Esperanza de Triana: an altar dedicated to the Virgin of Fatima. “I have many projects and dreams to fulfil,” he assures. The Niculoso Pisano award is a boost to his career, and although he admits to being “a man of few crowds,” this year he has a mandatory appointment: the Velá de Santa Ana. “I will go. This year is a must,” he says with a laugh.
The award ceremony will take place on Sunday, July 26, the feast of Santa Ana, at Altozano, at 22:30 hours. Alcarazo dedicates the award to his parents, whom he considers “his driving force.”
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