5.04.2012

Nicholas Herrera

T H E    E L   R I T O  S A N T E R O


Photos & Text by C. Whitney-Ward
Nicholas Herrera is a force of nature - always creating, always working. You might find him under the hood of  a rusted and immovable car perched in his driveway...





Painting a door to his daughter's room replete with a 'gun' doorknob...
"For when she brings home a boyfriend," laughs Herrara.


Fashioning a fab studio desk out of car fenders and a grill...



Or carving a magnificent saint out of cottonwood in his vast and light-filled studio.





Nicholas is a self-taught artist following in the footsteps of his great, great uncle who was a Santero de Muerto, also carving in cottonwood. His family history is rich, tracing back fifteen generations in New Mexico -  originally coming from the Canary Islands - and six generations  in El Rito and the family ancestral ranch in the mountains. Nicholas lives and works in the same house where he was born.



A room in the original house is like a mini museum...





And, Nicholas built a private chapel to St. Anthony out back where
 his mother is buried.

His work -  in 30 museums including the Smithsonian - is powerful and unique combining traditional Santero art with a contemporary twist and commentary. 







"The history and genealogy of my family is in my art," explains Nicholas, who has just completed a large painted and carved piece - Matachines - The Dancers - for a July showing at LEGENDS GALLERY in Santa Fe.


N I C H O L A S   H E R R E R A

El Rito, New Mexico


LEGENDS GALLERY
125 Lincoln Avenue - Santa Fe, NM

Opening - July 6
 5-7pm
.