Manuel Jiménez Ramírez (9 June 1919 – 4 March 2005) was a Mexican carver, sculptor and painter credited as the originator of the Oaxacan version of “alebrijes,” animal creatures carved in wood and painted in strong contrasting colours with intricate designs.

[1] During his life he engaged in other activities, depending on his whim, such as cutting sugar cane in Veracruz and Oaxaca, bricklaying, basket making, hairdressing and more.

[2] The Oaxaca version is made of wood, with figures closer to nahuals than the creatures of various animal parts of Mexico City.

Jiménez Ramírez also often added hair and beards made of ixtle, another indication of their nahual origins.

[1][4] Jiménez Ramírez worked in copalillo, zompantle, palo de Aguila and cedar, with the first two collected locally.

[1] The artisan’s work can be found in public and private collections around the world, especially in museums in the United States.