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Buying Art in Iquitos

Shipibo Artisans’ Market

Shipibo Market on the Iquitos Plaza de Armas

The Shipibo Market is the best place to buy art directly from the artists. There is a wide variety of paintings, weavings, embroidery and crafts. Most are made with cotton though you’ll also find a lot of things made with palm fiber. Most artists only speak Spanish and their Indigenous language but if you’re patient they will help find somebody to translate for you.

Artist Rosa at the Shipibo Market in Iquitos

I spoke with Rosita Chavez (above) who is the president of the association of Shipibo artists. She explained that every artist who has stall at the market only sells their art and their family’s art. She sells her embroidery and her husband’s paintings

Embroidered blankets at Iquitos Shipibo Market

Original paintings at the Shipibo Market in Iquito

Art inspired by ayahuasca in Iquitos

Hand painted cotton blankets

Bargaining is somewhat common but don’t expect the price to go down more than 5-10%. Also, consider if that small difference means more to you than it does to them - or if it’s the other way around.

Art & Artisanal Crafts

Iquitos

The jungle city

Text © Heather Jasper

Images by Heather Jasper