The Retablos of Jeronimo Lozano

Dive into the life and work of master craftsman Jeronimo Lozano and his extraordinarily detailed retablos.

Steeped in ancient Peruvian traditions, retablos are small sculpted figures that show religious and secular scenes housed in structures large and small, ranging from pistachio shells and matchboxes to handmade wooden boxes and freestanding installations. Lozano’s retablos are both traditional and innovative, visualizing the cultural life of people in the mountains of Peru, from ceremonies, processions, and market stands to fiestas, street performance, historical tableaux, and current events.

Writer, documentarian, and folklorist Alan Govenar shares an in-depth interview with Lozano, tracking his childhood in Ayacucho, Peru, to his arrival in the US; how he's navigated his hearing disability; and his process from start to finish. Divided into My Story, My Life, and My Process, the interview is paired with colorful photographs of his work. 

This book is a celebration of the form of the retablo, one of the many folk and traditional art forms that make up the American arts-and-crafts landscape.