Elia Mateo is a master Zapotec potter from the "red clay village" of San Marcos Tlapazola, Oaxaca, where she continues a tradition passed down through more than seven generations of women in her family. Her work is deeply rooted in a spiritual and intimate connection with the earth, utilizing ancient hand-building techniques that eschew the potter’s wheel in favor of tools like corncobs, gourd shells, and smooth river stones for burnishing. A member of the Mujeres del Barro Rojo cooperative, Elia creates elegant, functional, and decorative pieces that celebrate Zapotec cultural heritage while advocating for the artistic and economic empowerment of Indigenous women.