Las Manos Magicas

The hands that created the art seen at Las Manos Mágicas might very well have magic in them. The Heights-area shop has been around since the early '70s and built a solid reputation for itself as the place in Houston for affordable artwork, especially by regional and Latin American artisans, as well as by self-taught and outsider talents. Owner Madeleine Crozat-Williams, an expert on Mexican folk art, makes a couple of big buying trips a year, visiting individual workshops and studios to hand-pick new paintings, sculptures, textiles, jewelry and tinwork. By buying directly from the artists, Crozat-Williams ensures quality and low prices for her customers, as well as a fair price for the artists. The shop also carries beadwork from India, baskets from Nigeria and needlework from Uzbekistan, among other treasures. And all of it is at amazingly affordable prices.