Pachamama by Gabriela Otero, Wood, Unique, 197cm high by 45cm wide by 50cm deep, Body, Female, Figurative, Nude sculpture

Pachamama by Gabriela Otero is a powerful figurative sculpture carved from a tree trunk. Rising almost two meters tall, the piece depicts a woman whose form emerges directly from the wood. Her body begins above the thighs, anchored to the stump that serves as both base and continuation of her form.

Although her figure carries abstraction, the shape remains readable as female. The natural grain of the trunk, along with cracks in the surface, shapes the work as much as the carving itself. This interplay between nature and human form reflects the rawness of the material and the artist’s respect for its organic character.

Her arms rest forward, merging seamlessly into the stump. From there, they extend outward into wing-like forms. These wings do not resemble feathers but instead curve and taper as slender extensions of the body. Their presence suggests flight, transcendence, or spiritual connection, while their simplicity maintains the sculpture’s grounded, earthy quality.

The absence of fine detail allows the silhouette to dominate. Smooth planes contrast with the rugged fissures of the wood, emphasizing both strength and vulnerability. The work carries symbolic weight, presenting the female body as one with the natural world.

Through its scale, abstraction, and raw texture, Pachamama embodies timeless presence. It stands as both a figure and a force, rooted in the earth yet reaching beyond it.

Here is Gabriela’s story on this sculpture:
Every August 1st, Mother Earth receives the homage and gratitude of her children in a heartfelt offering for the livelihoods received throughout the year.
The celebration of Pachamama has a mystical connection with the origin of the universe and human beings. Mother Earth assumes, according to this ancestral belief, the energy of the cosmos, the universe, time and space. The name of Pacha derives from this energy source and it is through this link that there is a deep respect for its integrity.