Nicholas Herrera (born July 11, 1964) is an artist in the Northern New Mexico
Santero tradition, also known as El Rito Santero ("the Saint maker of El Rito").
Life and career
He was born in
El Rito, New Mexico, and his New Mexican roots helped to shape him as an artist who "follows the ever-expanding folk tradition of the Northern New Mexico santero."
His art is known to provoke strong emotions, as it is satirical, religious and sometimes sad. Herrera's work takes the form of statuettes, sculptures inspired by modern issues, lithographs and plaster images. Much of his inspiration comes from a serious accident that put Herrera into a coma, during which he claims he saw a figure of death. As a result, his spiritual iconic style was born.
His work is in the permanent collections of the
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM, and formerly the National Museum of American Art) is a museum in Washington, D.C., part of the Smithsonian Institution. Together with its branch museum, the Renwick Gallery, SAAM holds o ...
,
Autry Museum of the American West
The Autry Museum of the American West is a museum in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to exploring an inclusive history of the American West. Founded in 1988, the museum presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programs, including le ...
, the
Museum of International Folk Art
The Museum of International Folk Art is a state-run institution in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It is one of many cultural institutions operated by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
History
The museum was founded by Floren ...
, the
Flatwater Folk Art Museum and the
Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery
The Sheldon Museum of Art is an art museum in the city of Lincoln, in the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. Its collection focuses on 19th- and 20th-century art.
History
Sheldon Art Association
In 1888, The Sheldon Art Assoc ...
.
He is represented by EVOKE Contemporary in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
References
External links
Official website
1964 births
Living people
American folk art
Artists from New Mexico
Hispanic and Latino American artists
20th-century American artists
People from El Rito, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
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