Biography

José Cristóbal Sierra, or Cheo, was born in Mérida, Venezuela in 1975. While Cheo is a mostly self-taught artist, he formally studied art at the artisans school through the University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela from 1993-1996 where he learned the basic skills of mixing clay, glazes, as well as throwing pots on the wheel. In 1996, Cheo began working professionally as an artist in Mérida, Venezuela doing mostly sculpture. In 2000, Cheo moved to Iowa with his wife Jamie where he dedicated himself to both sculpture and pottery. In 2007, Cheo and Jamie moved to Tucson, Arizona where he is working full-time as an artist.

 

Description of Work

Wheel-thrown porcelain that incorporates architectural design, technical drawing and pre-colombian influences in the iron engobes I use to detail the piece. Fired at cone 10, in reduction or oxidation.