Creating in Color: Artisan Fredy Granillo
Hailing from El Salvador, Fredy Granillo gravitated towards expression through art when he was only thirteen years old. Paintings and pottery that boasted brilliant colors and vibrant designs reflected his environment; a country bursting with reds, yellows, and blues wound with beautiful images of flora and fauna. Later, Fredy honed his craft over a decade of studying ceramics at the Salvadoran Autonomous National University. It was there that he became a master in pre-Columbian ceramic decorative methods, most specifically a style exclusive to El Salvador known as cerámica usulutan.
Since putting down roots in Chestertown, Maryland three years ago, Fredy’s work has grown into a distinctive interpretation of talavera pottery. Talavera has deep historical connections to the Latin American post-conquest period, with well-guarded traditions that dictate precise glaze and pigment techniques, specific color palates, and elaborate clay throwing methods.
With a studio located at his home in Chestertown, MD, Granillo is never far from his family; wife Rosie, who works for Kent County, and son Camilo who just turned 5.
His own story is one punctuated by having lived in a beautiful yet war torn nation, falling in love with an American woman and immigrating north, and having a strong foothold between both Salvadoran and US artistry. And so, Fredy is not interested in mass production of pieces devoid of emotion. Instead he uses the ceramic medium to create original works of art that reflect his own aesthetics, paying homage to the traditions from which they hail while fully exploring the connection with his new environment. No piece is duplicated, and no design will ever be repeated, making each and every item he creates truly one of a kind.
Recently, Fredy has expanded his creative repertoire to include stints with architecture and custom home design, and this spring he will work with local students to create a mural at Washington College. His passion to create, share, and inspire through his art is a testament to an endless versatility.
Learn more at fredygranillo.com and follow on Instagram @fredygranillo
