In the Oaxacan village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, legend contends the clay is blessed. Artisans who use it to make Oaxaca’s famous barro negro, black clay pottery, are reluctant to reveal its ...

Article continues below this ad Head south of town past the airport to find San Bartolo Coyotepec, home of the barro negro, or black pottery. The clay here turns purple-black when fired.

The Oaxacan Gold exhibit, curated by National Geographic contributing photographer, Greg Davis, is being featured at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Abilene.

Black clay has been used by the people of Oaxaca, Mexico for many centuries, in fact since prehistoric times. Nowadays you can get modern items produced in the same way as they were in ancient times.

Oaxacan black clay pottery from the Oaxacan connection was also featured in that article in a chart of items that are comparable to her style.

The two most famous Oaxacan pottery clays are barro rojo (an earthy, rust-colored variation), and barro negro (the iconic black version).

The visit’s last stop is Amando Pedro’s studio in San Bartolo Coyotepec where the focus is barro negro, a highly sought-after black clay that is unique to the area.

Oaxaca is largely known for a distinct style called barro negro, or black clay, that’s black in color and latticed in pattern. Up close, however, the Oaxacan tradition becomes more fragmented.

Near the city of Oaxaca, you can find towns where artists specialize in tapestries, rugs, clay figures and shiny black pottery known as barro negro.