Marina Fernández de Córdova: A Woman on a Mission to Preserve the Soul of Mexican Folk Art

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey

During a recent afternoon in San Miguel, the gallery Marquesa De Mancera was buzzing with life. Located on Cuna de Allende, directly across from the Parroquia of Saint Michael the Archangel, the space glowed with color, texture, and story. Visitors wandered through the exquisitely curated displays of Mexican folk art, while staff—trained by Marina herself—shared the stories behind each piece. For Marina Fernández de Córdova, this isn’t just a gallery. It’s a mission.

“I’ve become a reference for refined Mexican folk art,” she says, not with arrogance but with quiet pride. “And I’ve built close relationships with the great masters—some of whom I can’t even visit because their villages are too dangerous. But I still find ways to meet them.”

Marina’s gallery is a sanctuary for traditions that span centuries. Many of the artists she works with come from families that have practiced the same techniques for five, six, even seven generations. Some pieces take months—sometimes nearly a year—to complete. She ensures the artists are paid regularly, arranging monthly pickups from remote villages so they can continue living off their craft.

Her journey to this work began in southern Spain, where she ran a carpentry workshop and an antique store. She created hand-painted furniture inspired by European design and exhibited at fairs in Madrid and Paris. But after a divorce and the economic crisis in Europe, she sought a new beginning. “I was exhausted,” she recalls. “I wanted to go somewhere I could design again, create again, and surround myself with passion.” She found that—and much more—in México. “I didn’t want to be in a big city,” she says. “I came to San Miguel twice and said, ‘That’s it.’ There was an international community, which I needed. And the culture here—it’s so rich, so different.”

The name Marquesa De Mancera carries deep personal and historical significance. Marina’s family holds the title of Marquesado de la Mancera, and she later discovered that her ancestors were the second Viceroy and Vicereine of México in the 1600s. The Vicereine was a patron of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, México’s most revered poet. “It’s extraordinary,” Marina says. “And it makes everything I’m doing here feel like a continuation of something much deeper.”

Her mother, a pioneering photographer, spent decades documenting matriarchal tribes around the world. A book Marina is presenting in Madrid includes a section on the women in her family—among them her great-grandmother, who worked to preserve Spanish craftsmanship in the early 1900s. “She was doing exactly what I’m doing now,” Marina says. “Trying to keep traditions from disappearing.” That reverence for tradition is evident in every corner.

She’s refined certain styles—like the ceramic Trees of Life from Metepec, which are traditionally painted in fluorescent colors. Marina began commissioning them in white, and they’ve become bestsellers. “They’re stunning in white,” she says. “And my goal is to keep these traditions alive, to inspire younger generations.” She’s also developed new designs—like Lazy Susans carved with cactus needles, and lamps made from straw mandalas. She’s taking three of her favorite artists to the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, helping them gain exposure and build sustainable careers. But she is no purist. She welcomes evolution—so long as it doesn’t strip the soul from the work. “Some people try to modernize the designs, and that’s fine,” she says. “But we mustn’t lose the essence. This is sacred art. It’s connected to nature, to spirit, to culture.” She speaks with particular reverence about Juana, an indigenous artist from Chiapas known for her jaguars. “Every marking is hand-painted in perfect configuration,” Marina says. “She can’t correct anything—the pigment is absorbed instantly by the clay. It’s a meditation.”

Marina sees herself not as a savior, but as a mentor. “I feel like family to these artists,” she says. “They’re real people—authentic, spontaneous, full of humor. They’ve endured endless difficulties, and I’ve been there for them.”

Her work has given her life new meaning. “I’ve always supported families through employment, but here it’s different. It’s personal. It’s spiritual.” She’s also passed the torch to her own children and grandchildren. One granddaughter was born on the same day her mother’s legacy book was published. “There’s something magical about that,” Marina says. “And that’s what this work has taught me—to recognize the magic. The quiet, powerful moments that connect generations, cultures, and purpose.”

Marquesa de ManceraCuna de Allende 3, 415 152 1047

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Aundria McMillan Humphrey, Founder, Kickbutt Ageless Living

Slowdowngranny.com