Meet Cristina Negria Teucama

Master Wounaan Weaver | Sinai & Panama City, Panama

Cristina Negria Teucama is one of the most celebrated artists in Wounaan woven art. Originally from the rainforest village of Sinai, deep in the Darién, Cristina now lives on the outskirts of Panama City, alongside other Wounaan families who’ve moved closer to educational and economic opportunities. Though her surroundings have changed, her connection to the forest—and the artistry born there—remains central to her work.

Cristina learned by watching. She observed the women in her village weaving, studying their hands, their patterns, their rhythm. Over the years, she developed her own voice—bold, colorful, and unmistakably hers. For more than two decades, she has created vivid depictions of butterflies, parrots, and macaws. Her baskets often feature large, sweeping wings, curved leaves, and flocks of birds circling the form. Each butterfly is unique, stitched with spots or stripes, often alive with movement. She weaves alongside her sisters Miriam and Dalia, both master weavers in their own right, known for their bright and expressive natural motifs.

Weaving is Cristina’s sole source of income, and every part of the process is done by hand—from preparing palm and natural dyes to stitching every coil. Her larger works can take months, even years, to complete. Each basket is a labor of precision and joy—a reflection of pride, memory, and enduring beauty.