Tijuana Artist Turns ADHD Into Thriving Ceramics Studio

What started as therapy for ADHD has transformed into an international ceramics studio celebrating desert mythology and quiet reflection.

Sócrates Medina began experimenting with clay to manage his ADHD symptoms, never imagining it would become a career. In 2018, while living in Los Angeles, he founded Perro Y Arena as a passion project, crafting minimalist animal sculptures inspired by the creatures and cultures of his native Mexico.

By 2021, Medina had moved back to Tijuana to turn his hobby into a full-time business. Today, his studio collaborates with artists across multiple disciplines and hosts pop-up events in Los Angeles, San Diego, Mexico City, and his hometown.

His creations draw heavily from the desert landscapes straddling the U.S.-Mexico border. The coyote, a symbol of Tijuana's border identity, features prominently in his work alongside hairless Colima dogs, rabbits, and serpents. These animals carried deep spiritual meaning in ancient Mesoamerican cultures as guardians between the physical and metaphysical worlds.

Medina's signature aesthetic combines sandy desert tones with touches of yellow and blue. His minimalist lines echo the stark beauty of desert landscapes while incorporating symbols from nahualism, Indigenous shamanic traditions that blend with Greek and Egyptian artistic influences.

Why This Inspires

Medina's sculptures do more than decorate a space. Each piece invites viewers into what he calls "a spiritual and mythological world where you can dance with coyotes and hares while serenading the moon."

The animals serve as his alter ego, embodying qualities he seeks in his own life. When he creates a dog in meditation or holding a coffee cup, he's expressing his own desire for calm and reflection. Sometimes he adds tattoos or earrings he wishes he had himself.

"They're like a fantasy version of me," Medina explains. His incense holders remind users to pause and make time for themselves, turning everyday rituals into moments of mindfulness.

The studio's name, Perro Y Arena (Dog and Sand), captures this philosophy perfectly. Each handmade piece uses just a few carefully placed lines to create dynamic forms that invite contemplation and presence.

What began as one person's coping mechanism has blossomed into art that helps others slow down and reconnect with ancient wisdom in our hurried modern world.