Francisco Cardona and Olimpia Pabón exemplify the dedication of the people of Carmen de Viboral to keep their ceramic tradition alive, even though it nearly disappeared at the end of the 20th century. They are also the proud parents of four children who have inherited their craft and commitment.

It is said that Francisco Cardona never liked getting dirty, which led him to practice his father’s craft, Marco Antonio Cardona, with impeccable precision. Although initially reluctant, he quickly developed a love for clay—so much so that he decided to open his own workshop of hand-painted pottery years after his father’s factory closed, like many others, during the violent crisis that affected the region in the 1980s and 1990s. He achieved this thanks to the knowledge he inherited from his family’s work, which began with his grandfather, Eusebio Cardona, a molder from Carmen who moved to Cali and continued his profession there.

After a lifetime dedicated to ceramics, he still avoids getting dirty and proudly keeps up with the growth of other workshops in Carmen, generously sharing his knowledge with new artisans, including his own children. His life wouldn’t be the same if he hadn’t met Olimpia Pabón. Born in Medellín but raised in Carmen de Viboral, the hometown of her mother, Olimpia was always surrounded by ceramics through her aunts and uncles who worked as painters and craftsmen in the old factories. They met shortly after she finished high school and built a life together. For 30 years, she headed a school as principal, always striving to include the town’s tradition in the students’ learning foundations. Therefore, after retiring, she still had plenty of energy to lead projects in ceramics, an art that, in her words, tends to disappear. Having observed the artisanal world from the outside for so many years, she knew that what the industry needed was to team up. She then supported the creation of Acroloza, a foundation of pottery producers who have already managed two designations of origin for hand-decorated ceramics.

Olimpia and Francisco have four children who, as adults, decided to start their own workshop, Herencias, named in honor of their legacy. By dividing tasks among management, attending to foreign tourists, sales, and experiential workshops, they are putting their own spin on the family business: decorating their tableware with more contemporary designs featuring birds, fish, and corals, and focusing on engaging those who want to learn about their history and craft, thus ensuring that their rich legacy will continue for generations to come.