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Perro y Arena is a ceramics project and design studio by Tijuana-born artist Socrates Marko Medina.

Socrates's work is a visual poetry, exploring the spiritual connection between humans and the Baja Californian fauna. The clay he shapes reflects the textures and tones of Baja's Mediterranean landscapes, while his animal figurines transport us to a mythical world where we can dance with coyotes and hares under the moonlight. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand in his Tijuana studio.

Socrates's artistic journey began during his Bachelor's in Architecture with a minor in Art History at Cal Poly Pomona, where his first encounter with ceramics sparked an intuitive and nostalgic connection. While working in the design field in Los Angeles, he founded Perro y Arena in 2018, initially as a personal endeavor to share his creations with friends and family.

In 2021, he returned to his native Tijuana, turning his artistic passion into a full-time pursuit. He has been part of various exhibitions across the US and Mexico, earning awards such as the Premio Nacional de la Cerámica XLV and serving as an artist in residence at the Mingei International Museum during San Diego Design Week in 2022.

The studio actively partners with like-minded creatives who share a profound passion for and connection to the natural environment. Through these interdisciplinary collaborations, Perro y Arena seeks to create a richer tapestry that celebrates the intersection of art and nature.

Perro y Arena is not just a ceramics studio; it's an invitation to step into a world where art and design seamlessly blends with nature, and myths come to life through clay.

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contact info ︎
email:  perroyarena@gmail.com
instagram: @perroyarena

Artist CV

Education
2013 - 2018 Bachelor of Architecture, California Polytechnic Pomona, Pomona, CA 
2016 - Architecture Department, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

Art Residencies and Workshops (Ceramic Education)
2023 - Build Big. Workshop at The Infinite School with artist Julia Haft-Candell
2022 - Artist in residence at Mingei International Museum for San Diego Design Week
2022 - Una Vasija para Habitar. Workshop at Casa Ceniza with Jaime Andres and Maxine Alvarez

Solo Exhibitions
2022 - Los Guardianes de la Baja II, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2021 - Baja Silvestre, Cuarto Central, Montebello, CA. Featured artist
2021 - Los Guardianes de la Baja, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view

Group Exhibitions
2024 - Baja Silvestre. OMA West Gallery, Oceanside, CA. view
2023 - The Last Group Show. Bread & Salt, San Diego, CA
2023 - Semillero. Ángulo Galería, Tijuana, B.C. México. 
2023 - Cosecha: An Exhibit About Food. San Diego Mesa College Gallery, San Diego, CA view
2023 - Snake Eyes. Get Nice Gallery, Seattle, WA
2023 - Love Letters From. Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2023 - TJDW. Matiz Estudio, Tijuana, B.C. México view
2023 - Loteria IX. Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2023 - Bird Stories, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2023 -  HIP HIP HURRAY! Three Cheers for the Cup. Square i Gallery, Claremont, CA
2023 - Untamed Splendor. Antler Gallery, Portland, OR view
2022 - ¡Dale! ¡Dalee! ¡Daleee!, Matiz Estudio, Tijuana, B.C. México. view
2022 - Exploring the Vessel. Antler Gallery, Portland, OR view
2022 - Materia II. Matiz Estudio, Tijuana, B.C. México. view
2022 - Tiny Treasures XVII, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2022 - La Loteria, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 
2022 - Premio Nacional de la Cerámica XLV, Centro Cultural el Refugio, San Pedro Tlaquepaque, JAL, México
2022 - Middle Garden, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2022 - California Love, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2021 - Tiny Treasures, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2021 - La Loteria, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA view
2021 - Materia, Matiz Estudio, Tijuana, B.C. México. with Laura Huerta, Alonso Delgadillo and Nica Velarde.

Auctions
2023 - “Los Coyotes y el Sol” piece for Craft Contemporary Benefit + Auction, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA  view 

Awards
2022 - Premio Nacional de la Cerámica XLV, Finalist in Contemporary Ceramics, Centro Cultural el Refugio, San Pedro Tlaquepaque, JAL, México.

Events & Workshops
2023 - Nopalera. Pop-up Store in Silverlake, Los Angeles, CA.
2023 - CLAY LA. Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA (Ceramic Fair)
2022 - Holiday Market. Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA (Art Fair) UPCOMING
2022 - Mezcaleros + Platito, Workshop at Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA (workshop) 
2022 - CLAY LA, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA (Ceramic Fair)
2021 - CLAY LA, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA (Ceramic Fair)
2021 - Open Studios, Matiz Estudio, Tijuana, B.C. México. (Studio Tour)

Interviews and Features
2022 - Interview for Fireclay Tile view
2022 - Magazine Interview by Eide Sosa for El Conocedor (page 90 -93)  view
2022 - Interview by Helena Rojas for CoolHunterMX view
2021 - Interview and Studio Visit for Bixé view
2021 - Magazine interview with Mediterranews. Vol 6. November 2021. pages 39-41. view

Collaborations
2023 - Giveback Giveaway for non-profit organizations Terra Peninsular and Point Blue Conservation Science.
2022 - Giveaway for Hispanic Heritage Month - for Fireclay Tile in collaboration with Lustre Estudio
2022 - Los Solecitos II. Collaboration with Lordag & Sondag. Ceramic sun faces hand woven with jipi japa fibers
2022 - Fauna Baja Tortilleros. Collaboration with Isa Guadalupe. Hand embroidered tortilla warmers and aprons.
2021 - Los Solecitos. Collaboration with Lordag & Sondag. Ceramic sun faces hand woven with jipi japa fibers 
2020 - Comedor Xochimilco, Collaboration with Matiz Estudio, Isa Guadalupe, Fragmento. A tortilla warmer, apron and a clay hotplate “comal” to raise funds for a community kitchen and dining hall in Xochimilco, México designed by Taller Unoauno.