Juan Horta Castillo (1940-2006) Mexico, Mask. Carved and painted wood with skeleton, snakes, birds, signed and dated on reverse. Juan Horta Castillo was one of the premier traditional mask makers in Mexico. He exhibited his art throughout Mexico and the United States and was a multiple first prize winner in Mexico's National Mask Maker Competition. His masks were also featured in the world-wide performances of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. With nothing more than a machete and some crude chisels, Juan was able to transform a hunk of wood into an expressive work of art based on the tradition of his ancestors. His works range from simple human and animal forms, to complex compositions that combine multiple subjects. Devils, snakes, cats, lizards and skeletons are common elements in his work. Horta masks come in a number of sizes, from full size functional masks, to miniatures created for decorative display. Size: 14 x 8 x 6 in. Location S