Mopa Mopa

At Mopa Mopa in Oranjestad, local handicrafts aren’t just souvenirs—they’re decorative art. The gallery specializes in carved wooden figures, crafted lovingly in the traditional mopa mopa, or barniz de Pasto, style. To finish each piece, artisans paint them with vegetable dyes and resin-based lacquer, making for one-of-a-kind keepsakes. Visit the gallery to shop and speak with the artisans themselves, who will gladly answer questions and demonstrate their intricate techniques.

Hand crafted Mopa Mopa masks and figurines can be found at markets and art shops around Aruba. Artisans create the colorful, metallic overlays on each piece by boiling leaf buds in an old Amerindian tradition and stretching them into place with their hands and teeth.