Hermes Arroyo

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Hermes Arroyo was born and raised in the town of San Miguel de Allende, in central Mexico. He was one of thirteen children, exactly in the middle, but his family did not make handcrafts of any kind. His interest in it came about in grade school, when a classmate named Antonio Almanza brought nativity figures made by his father, a locally noted artisan named Genaro Almanza, who had a workshop nearby on Calle Jesus. Arroyo’s fascination with the figures extended to all aspects of Almanza’s work. This led to an apprenticeship with the master craftsman, as well as a familial bond, with Almanza becoming a godfather to Arroyo. From Almanza, Arroyo learned to work with wood, gold leaf, fabric, paint, molds, sparkles, plaster, resin and more, mostly related to the making and care of religious icons and other paraphernalia. He also worked with Almanza to mount art exhibits and create props, costumes, and scenery.

However, Arroyo’s studies did not end there. He studied art at the Centro Cultural El Nigromante in San Miguel, as well as art in the city of Monterrey. This combination of training means that Arroyo produces more avant-garde pieces as well as traditional ones.

A central part of his family's workshop is the creation of mojigangas. Originally crafted for traditional religious festivities, these iconic giant puppets have evolved under Hermes' hand to become a staple for weddings and celebratory events of all kinds. Hermes leads his family in the production of these and other diverse handcrafts, working together as a team to create the unique pieces featured in his Mexican craft store. Beyond their own creations, the shop also serves as a showcase for high-quality artisanal work produced by other families from across the regions of Guanajuato and Michoacán.

They remain based in his childhood home on the steepest part of the Calle San Francisco in the historic center of San Miguel. One room is specifically dedicated as his workshop, filled with paints, accessories, paper, and partially completed works, with little room to move. However, his work can be seen throughout the house, both as finished products for customers and as ongoing projects to improve their living spaces.