About Cekouat León

Cekouat Elim León Peralta (1996) is an origami artist based in Mexico City. He has practiced the art and science of paper folding for 18 years, and began designing his own models using single uncut squares of paper in 2013.

Born in a family of artisans, musicians and prehispanic dancers, his childhood was marked by constant trips to the deserts and forests of Mexico, experiences that inspired him to get a degree in Biology. Nowadays his origami designs reflect the way he perceives the animals and plants around him, and for that purpose he uses a variety of hand-made papers from all over the world.

Currently, he explores the cultural and botanical changes of amate, Mexican bark paper, working together with native amateros in San Pablito, Puebla. He is also interested in the use of orchids in the production of different artistic expressions in Mexico.

His work has been presented through exhibitions, workshops and lectures in many institutions in Mexico and other countries, including the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, England, Vietnam and Hong Kong. He was a special guest at the origami conventions of Argentina and Mexico in 2024, and Bogotá in 2025.

My work lies between cultural syncretism and biological appreciation. Just as fibers intermingle in a sheet of paper and creases connect in an origami design, I seek horizontal communication with the natural subjects I represent and the traditions behind the materials I use.

By observing the species of my interest in the wild and biological collections, I employ geometric principles in paper folding to understand wildlife and showcase its intrinsic value. Through working directly with native and foreign paper makers and scientists, every new design encapsulates social and natural history, intending to provoke in the viewer empathy and awareness of the living environment.

Artist statement

Cekouat León and Dr. James Ojascastro (extreme right) with Otomí amate paper makers in San Pablito, Puebla, México. 2022