- Diego Romero (artist)
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Diego Romero Born 1964
Berkeley, CaliforniaNationality Cochiti Pueblo Field ceramics, printmaking, painting Training MFA University of California, Los Angeles, BFA Otis College of Art and Design, Institute of American Indian Arts Movement Pueblo art, Native pop art Influenced by Mimbres pottery, Greek pottery Diego Romero (born 1964) is a Cochiti Pueblo ceramic artist living in New Mexico.
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Background
Diego Romero was born in Berkeley, California in 1960. His father is Santiago Romero, a Cochiti Pueblo Indian, and his mother is Nellie Guth, a European-American.[1] Diego, like his mother, was born and raised in Berkeley, California,[2] but spent his childhood summers at Cochiti, New Mexico.[1] Romero's father was a traditional painter, despite losing one of his hands in the Korean War.[1] Although, in his youth, Romero related to his tribe only with great difficulty, as a young man the Cochiti council honored him by granting him the right to occupy his grandfather's property.[1]
Art career
Romero's first mentor in clay was Navajo ceramicist Nathan Begaye.[1] After art school in California, he attended the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. After one year at IAIA, he enrolled at Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles, where he earned his BFA degree. He moved on to University of California, Los Angeles where he received his MFA in 1993.[1]
While at UCLA, Romero found his style. He created ceramic pots, painted in gold, that wedded traditional Anasazi and Mimbres designs with Greek black-figure vase painting styles.[1] This marriage of styles gave birth to his "Chongo Brothers" series. A chongo is a Southwest Native man who wears his hair in a traditional bun.[1] Romero combines with humor and biting social commentary as he paints pots narrating the exploits of the Chongo Brothers and Coyote — documenting their interactions with traditional Native, historical Spanish and Anglo, and contemporary mainstream societies.
The Greek painting influence shows in Romero's portrayal of idealized, muscular bodies. His work also reflects as a heavy influence by comics and pop culture. Romero explores sexuality in his work – an uncommon subject matter for Native art today.
A collection of his work toured Europe in 2006. He is represented by galleries in New York and Santa Fe, including Robert Nichols Gallery.
Personal life
Romero now lives and works in New Mexico. He was married to Lisa Tiger, the Muscogee Creek-Seminole daughter of artist Jerome Tiger and prominent AIDS activist and educator. Together they have a daughter, Cornelia Margaret TaLadu Dana Tiger,[3] and several adopted Oglala Lakota children. Romero's brother, Mateo Romero is also an influential artist, currently active in New Mexico
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Clark, Garth. Free Spirit: The New Native American Potter. Hertogenbosch, Netherlands: Stedelijik Museum's, 2006: 102-123.
- ^ Clark, Garth. (Mar/Apr 2007). "Bridging two worlds." Ceramic Review v 224, p. 48-51.
- ^ Hopkins, John Christian. "Native Americans to mark World AIDS Day." The Truth Well Told. 30 Nov 07 (retrieved 17 Jan 09)
External links
- Interview with Diego Romero by Larry Abbott
- Images of his work
- Diego Romero, Vision Project, by Dylan A. T. Miner
Categories:- Living people
- 1964 births
- Native American potters
- Artists from New Mexico
- Pueblo people
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