Hello, my name is Jose Cobos. I am an international ceramic artist and one of the teachers at La Montaña en el Mar, a studio that has spent four years teaching over 500 students the beautiful art of ceramics.
Originally, I studied architecture and worked in the field for a few years, but teaching ceramics has been a transformative path for me—leading me deeper into clay and helping me forge my own artistic journey. I specialize in hand modelling sculpture, and musical instruments in clay. Teaching has also brought me incredible opportunities, such as:
Two art residencies in the world capital of porcelain, Jingdezhen, China.
A medal of excellence in the national category at the CIDAP art fair.
My work is part of collections like the Clay Center of New Orleans, the Ceramic Art Avenue Gallery (Jingdezhen), the Taoyangli Historical Museum (Jingdezhen), the CIDAP Museum, and other private collections. A key part of reaching excellence in my craft has been teaching for many years and collaborating with my partner, Martina Vega. Martina is the granddaughter of the legendary ceramic artist Eduardo Vega, and she carries forward his legacy with her own brilliance.
Together with Martina, we’ve taught hand-building techniques, glazing, and more to our beloved students. Our studio isn’t just a place to learn; it’s a space to build community and connect with like-minded people.
Martina Vega is a graphic designer but has been immersed in ceramics her entire life. She grew up surrounded by colors, drawings, and designs from her family’s workshops. Her mastery of color theory and textures is extraordinary, and she specializes in functional pottery with a sculptural touch, as well as nerikomi—a Japanese marbled-clay technique. Together, we created a ceramic musical instrument using nerikomi, a piece that became a turning point in our careers. Martina has also earned recognition in animation, including a short film medal awarded by the Museo del Agua in Quito.
We’ll be teaching from April 8th until September this year, as we’ll likely be moving abroad afterward to live and work. For us, it’s essential to share our skills, knowledge, and love for ceramics with Cuenca’s local and expat communities. Our studio has always been a welcoming space where everyone—expats from around the world, Cuencanos, or Ecuadorians from other cities—can create alongside one another in our precious country.
Any inquiry about our classes feel free to contact us! Only for Cuenca.
04/08/2025 at 10 AM. $50
Calle Quito 2-45 y Liribamba, Cuenca, Ecuador.
José Cobos: lamontanaenelmar@gmail.com / +593 99 866 1486
