About
José Luis Sánchez Expósito began embroidering at the age of 16 for the villages and brotherhoods of Córdoba. He then moved to Seville, where he had the opportunity to work in some of the best workshops in the capital. Nearly 20 years ago he decided to set out on his own and established his atelier Bordados Santa Clara, since then many brotherhoods and individuals, from Spain and abroad, have passed through his workshop.
José Luis specialises in the cardboard technique, cartulina and the hojilla technique. Embroidering with gold, silver and silk threads to dress replicas of the Virgin Mary and saints means embroidering with love and care, creating works intended to awaken the devotion of believers and therefore they must transmit a deep feeling of beauty and peace.
He chose the craft of gold thread embroidery because he felt a deep connection to the tradition and culture of his home region, Andalusia. Semana Santa has always been an integral part of life in this region, and the art of embroidery has played a fundamental role in enriching this celebration. His choice was not only based on his admiration for the beauty of the embroidery, but also on the deep emotional attachment he has with his region.
José Luis was paired with Gonzalo García Cuevas for the first edition of Homo Faber Fellowship, they were one of the 21 selected master artisan and fellow duos taking part in the Michelangelo Foundation’s new professional integration programme which facilitates transmission from one generation to the next. José Luis chose to participate to give an aspiring artisan the chance receive a formal apprenticeship in a gold thread embroidery workshop, seeing it as his responsibility to share his experience and knowledge. Firstly, to help young talents who need the technical skills and secondly to preserve and promote an important local heritage
