William Spratling: Architect of Mexican Modernism William Batty Spratling (1900-1967) stands as a singular figure in the annals of 20th-century art, particularly within the vibrant tapestry of Mexican silver design. Born in Ashland, Oregon, he embarked on an extraordinary journey that propelled him from American silversmithing to becoming arguably the most influential artist shaping the aesthetic sensibilities of his time—a legacy cemented in Taxco, Guerrero, where his workshops continue to produce exquisite pieces inspired by his pioneering vision. Spratling’s formative years instilled a f…