Aileen Castañeda

Puerto Rico-based artist working across sculpture, ceramics, and graphic design. She studied at Drew University in New Jersey and the Studio Art Center International in Florence before returning to Puerto Rico, where she began her career as a graphic artist. Her ceramic practice began at Casa Candina in the mid-1980s, earning her an Honorable Mention at the 1990 Biennial of Contemporary Puerto Rican Ceramics. Since 1988, she has taught ceramics at various institutions, including the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico. As a longtime board member of Casa Candina, Castañeda has co-organized major ceramic exhibitions both locally and abroad. Her recent work features intricate openwork forms that play with light and shadow, pushing ceramic sculptures beyond traditional volume.

Ceramics

See More
Aileen Castañeda | Vasija Espiral V | Ceramic | 6 x 13” Diam.
Aileen Castañeda | Vasija Espiral V | Ceramic | 6 x 13” Diam.

Vasija Espiral V

Inquire
A textured, earth-toned ceramic vessel sits centered on a dark, flat surface against a plain white background. The sculpture has a rounded, bulbous body that tapers slightly toward a wide, open top, resembling a natural organic form like a seed pod or coral. Its surface is defined by deep, vertical ridges that spiral slightly, creating a rhythmic, accordion-like pattern. The clay has a coarse, sandy appearance with a warm ochre or terracotta hue, and the finish is matte and porous, featuring small cracks and irregularities that give it an ancient, weathered feel.
A textured, earth-toned ceramic vessel sits centered on a dark, flat surface against a plain white background. The sculpture has a rounded, bulbous body that tapers slightly toward a wide, open top, resembling a natural organic form like a seed pod or coral. Its surface is defined by deep, vertical ridges that spiral slightly, creating a rhythmic, accordion-like pattern. The clay has a coarse, sandy appearance with a warm ochre or terracotta hue, and the finish is matte and porous, featuring small cracks and irregularities that give it an ancient, weathered feel.
A textured, earth-toned ceramic vessel sits centered on a dark, flat surface against a plain white background. The sculpture has a rounded, bulbous body that tapers slightly toward a wide, open top, resembling a natural organic form like a seed pod or coral. Its surface is defined by deep, vertical ridges that spiral slightly, creating a rhythmic, accordion-like pattern. The clay has a coarse, sandy appearance with a warm ochre or terracotta hue, and the finish is matte and porous, featuring small cracks and irregularities that give it an ancient, weathered feel.
A textured, earth-toned ceramic vessel sits centered on a dark, flat surface against a plain white background. The sculpture has a rounded, bulbous body that tapers slightly toward a wide, open top, resembling a natural organic form like a seed pod or coral. Its surface is defined by deep, vertical ridges that spiral slightly, creating a rhythmic, accordion-like pattern. The clay has a coarse, sandy appearance with a warm ochre or terracotta hue, and the finish is matte and porous, featuring small cracks and irregularities that give it an ancient, weathered feel.

Porifera Keramikós II

Inquire
Aileen Castañeda | Serie Dar | Triángulos | Ceramic | 6 x 6"
The piece consists of an off-white ceramic characterized by a dynamic pattern of sharp, triangular cutouts of varying sizes. This geometric "shard" pattern is set within a contrasting, dark-stained wooden frame, which is secured to the wall at each corner by small, circular silver screws.

Serie Dar | Triángulos

Inquire
This image shows a square decorative ceramic panel mounted on a wooden backing. The light-colored ceramic surface features a repeating pattern of half-moon–shaped cutouts arranged in a circular, swirling formation that creates a sense of movement across the design. The cutouts reveal the darker wood behind the ceramic, adding contrast and depth to the pattern. A dark wooden frame surrounds the ceramic panel, and four visible screws at the corners secure it in place.
This image shows a square decorative ceramic panel mounted on a wooden backing. The light-colored ceramic surface features a repeating pattern of half-moon–shaped cutouts arranged in a circular, swirling formation that creates a sense of movement across the design. The cutouts reveal the darker wood behind the ceramic, adding contrast and depth to the pattern. A dark wooden frame surrounds the ceramic panel, and four visible screws at the corners secure it in place.

Serie Dar | Lunas

Inquire
The piece consists of a centered, off-white ceramic with numerous organic, crescent-shaped cutouts that create a rhythmic, wave-like pattern. This patterned insert is set within a contrasting, dark-stained wooden frame, which is secured to the wall at each corner by small, circular silver screws. The combination of the smooth, matte finish of the patterned "half-moon" cutouts and the rich grain of the dark wood frame.
The piece consists of a centered, off-white ceramic with numerous organic, crescent-shaped cutouts that create a rhythmic, wave-like pattern. This patterned insert is set within a contrasting, dark-stained wooden frame, which is secured to the wall at each corner by small, circular silver screws. The combination of the smooth, matte finish of the patterned "half-moon" cutouts and the rich grain of the dark wood frame.

Serie Dar | Lunitas

Inquire
A hand-crafted ceramic orb or bowl with a weathered, earth-toned texture in shades of grey, brown, and muted blue. The piece features a dynamic, swirling fish cutouts that radiates from the center, creating a sense of motion. The thick, textured ridges of the ceramic give it a rustic, stone-like appearance, while the irregular open spaces allow for a play of light and shadow, revealing a darker interior.
A hand-crafted ceramic orb or bowl with a weathered, earth-toned texture in shades of grey, brown, and muted blue. The piece features a dynamic, swirling fish cutouts that radiates from the center, creating a sense of motion. The thick, textured ridges of the ceramic give it a rustic, stone-like appearance, while the irregular open spaces allow for a play of light and shadow, revealing a darker interior.
A hand-crafted ceramic orb or bowl with a weathered, earth-toned texture in shades of grey, brown, and muted blue. The piece features a dynamic, swirling fish cutouts that radiates from the center, creating a sense of motion. The thick, textured ridges of the ceramic give it a rustic, stone-like appearance, while the irregular open spaces allow for a play of light and shadow, revealing a darker interior.

Remolino Marino

Inquire
A round, handcrafted ceramic vessel featuring a matte glaze with soft beige, grey, and cool slate-blue washes. The exterior is carved with dark, flowing lines that intersect to form a grid-like web across the rounded surface. Small circular cutouts with slightly raised, starburst-like borders are integrated into the line intersections. The pot sits on a weathered wooden surface, positioned in front of a soft-focus background of lush green garden foliage and a textured stone wall.
Aileen Castañeda | Baile de Estrellas Marinas III | Ceramic | 11.75 x 10" Diam.
A round, handcrafted ceramic vessel featuring a matte glaze with soft beige, grey, and cool slate-blue washes. The exterior is carved with dark, flowing lines that intersect to form a grid-like web across the rounded surface. Small circular cutouts with slightly raised, starburst-like borders are integrated into the line intersections. The pot sits on a weathered wooden surface, positioned in front of a soft-focus background of lush green garden foliage and a textured stone wall.

Baile de Estrellas Marinas III

Inquire
A hollow decorative sphere with a texture. The sphere features an intricate, openwork lattice design with a prominent three spirals originating from its center. It is a cage-like structure.
A hollow decorative sphere with a texture. The sphere features an intricate, openwork lattice design with a prominent three spirals originating from its center. It is a cage-like structure.
A hollow decorative sphere with a texture. The sphere features an intricate, openwork lattice design with a prominent three spirals originating from its center. It is a cage-like structure.
A hollow decorative sphere with a texture. The sphere features an intricate, openwork lattice design with a prominent three spirals originating from its center. It is a cage-like structure.

Trio de Espirales

Inquire
A handmade, tapered ceramic vessel titled featuring a textured, matte surface with warm beige, peach, and muted red tones. The exterior is decorated with fluid, dark carved lines that interlock across the body, creating dynamic geometric and star-like patterns. Small, precise cutouts are visible along some of the linework, allowing light to pass through. The vessel rests on a rustic wooden surface against a soft-focus background of lush green garden foliage.
A handmade, tapered ceramic vessel titled featuring a textured, matte surface with warm beige, peach, and muted red tones. The exterior is decorated with fluid, dark carved lines that interlock across the body, creating dynamic geometric and star-like patterns. Small, precise cutouts are visible along some of the linework, allowing light to pass through. The vessel rests on a rustic wooden surface against a soft-focus background of lush green garden foliage.

Baile de Estrellas Marinas IV

Inquire

Artwork Inquiry

Artwork Title

Artist Name