Some of the best ways to get to know San Antonio are through the people who create here.
Tucked inside Rinconcito de Esperanza on San Antonio’s historic Westside, the MujerArtes Women’s Clay Cooperative is a space where women come together to create ceramic art inspired by their lives, culture, families and community.
Founded in 1995, MujerArtes has spent 31 years providing women with a place to learn and create through barro (clay). But spend a little time inside the studio, and you quickly realize MujerArtes is much more than what comes out of the kiln.
For the women who create here, it’s a community, a source of confidence, a place to preserve traditions and, for many, a second home.
As part of our Made in San Antonio series, we spent time with the women of MujerArtes to learn about their work, what this creative community means to them and why visitors should make time in their itinerary to experience it for themselves.
Who Are the Women of MujerArtes?
MujerArtes brings together women from San Antonio’s Westside to learn the art of working with clay and develop their own creative styles.
Some arrive with an artistic background. Others have never touched clay before.
Elizabeth Jerónimo Oreste has been part of MujerArtes for more than 20 years and remembers being one of those beginners.
“When I came here, I didn’t know anything about clay,” Elizabeth shared.
Little by little, she learned the craft and discovered something new about herself along the way: she was capable of creating art.
“It gave me a lot of confidence in myself.”
That process of learning together is at the heart of MujerArtes. Clay workshops are held five days a week, with the women teaching and supporting one another, experienced ceramicists offering guidance and visiting artists introducing new techniques. Younger women joining the cooperative also have the opportunity to learn from those who have been creating here for years.
For Rosa Vega, who has spent 13 years with MujerArtes, creating can still bring moments of surprise.
“Sometimes,” she explained, “you start something wondering whether you’ll be able to do it. Then you finish and realize, sí, sí lo pude hacer.” (Yes, I was able to do it.)
“And from there, you start thinking about what else you can create.”
More Than a Studio: Art, Culture and Community
Hilda Ruiz has spent 16 years with the cooperative and describes the studio as her second home. Working with clay gives her a chance to focus completely on what is in front of her.
“It relaxes me a lot,” she shared. “I forget everything outside, all the problems.”
Just as meaningful are the women working beside her. “We all treat each other like family, and we all help each other.”
Mary Agnes Rodriguez sees that same sense of community reflected in the creative process. She has been with MujerArtes for around a decade and connected with the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center for more than 20 years.
For Mary Agnes, working with ceramics means working with her hands and allowing herself to discover what comes next.
“It’s like a surprise all the time,” she said.
The women create each piece by hand, often incorporating elements of culture, family and tradition. Even the MujerArtes studio reflects that creative spirit: the adobe space was built with the involvement of women from the cooperative and community, with handmade details throughout.
Sandra Espinosa Martínez, Peacemarket Coordinator at Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, sees that exchange of creativity and knowledge as an important part of what MujerArtes represents.
“It’s that unity, that empowerment and trying to promote our culture,” she shared.
From a Piece of Clay to a Work of Art
Visitors to MujerArtes have the opportunity to see just how much goes into the pieces created there.
Each begins with clay and the artist’s hands. From there comes shaping, firing, painting and firing again, with plenty of patience in between.
During our visit, several of the women were working on a commissioned collection of cups featuring buffalo designs. Mary Agnes was also helping create some of approximately 200 handmade tiles for the newly-restored casitas at Rinconcito de Esperanza.
The women help one another finish projects, exchange ideas and learn new techniques.
For Rosa, seeing someone connect with something she created brings its own kind of satisfaction. When someone purchases one of her pieces, she thinks, “I did a good job. They liked it."
Where Can You See Their Art?
Visitors can step inside the cooperative’s studio, see the artists at work and explore handmade pieces available for purchase. Artwork can even be shipped, making it possible to support the artists and bring a piece of San Antonio home without having to fit it into your suitcase.
MujerArtes is part of the larger Rinconcito de Esperanza cultural campus, which also includes Museo del Westside, where visitors can continue exploring the history and culture of San Antonio’s Westside.
The artists also share their work throughout San Antonio at galleries, art fairs, schools, libraries and other community spaces, while hosting annual exhibitions and events of their own.
You can find their work in San Antonio’s public art, too. Mary Agnes is among a group of MujerArtes artists who contributed ceramic pieces to the Árbol de la Vida: Memorias y Voces de la Tierra art installation along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River.
Celebrate 31 Years of MujerArtes
This September offers an especially meaningful time to experience MujerArtes as the cooperative celebrates its 31st anniversary.
For the milestone, the artists have created pieces centered around women, with inspiration ranging from mothers and grandmothers to traditional Mexican clothing.
Visitors are invited to join the 31st Anniversary Celebration & Sale at Rinconcito de Esperanza on September 26. The evening will include music, food and an opportunity to meet and support the artists, as well as take home some unique pieces.
A Perfect Day in San Antonio
When we asked the women to describe their perfect day in San Antonio, their answers brought us right back to the places they love.
For Mary Agnes, that means grabbing a sketchbook and heading outdoors. She enjoys sketching around Woodlawn Lake and Elmendorf Lake, spending time near the water and watching the birds, ducks and turtles. Sometimes, simply sitting outside and observing her surroundings is enough to spark a new idea.
For Elizabeth, Hilda and Rosa, the answer was even closer to home: their perfect day is at MujerArtes. And after spending time in the studio, it’s easy to understand why.
Fun fact: While you’re exploring the Westside, keep an eye out for Mary Agnes herself. A large-scale mural portrait of the artist and activist can be found in the exterior of Bill’s Pawn & Jewelry, near N. Zarzamora and W. Commerce St.
Visit MujerArtes
The women of MujerArtes want visitors to come in, meet them, and see what they create.
As Elizabeth shared, one of her hopes is for more people to discover the cooperative and “come and get to know us”. The women, their work and the studio itself.
MujerArtes 31st Anniversary Celebration & Sale
Date: September 26, 2026
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Rinconcito de Esperanza, 816 S. Colorado St.
Meet the artists, explore and shop for unique handmade pieces, and enjoy an evening of music and food.
Where to Follow
Keep up with the artists and their work by following the MujerArtes Facebook page.
Learn more about the cooperative by visiting the MujerArtes website.