Mateo Romero
Contemporary Pueblo painter Mateo Romero was born and raised in Berkeley, California. His cultural background is an urban one whilst through his father Santiago Romero and his connection to their Southern Keresan Cochiti people, his experience includes much of the Rio Grande Pueblo world as well. Mateo attended Dartmouth College and studied with acclaimed artists Ben Frank Moss and Varujan Boghosian.
Romero received an MFA in printmaking from the University of New Mexico. He is an award-winning artist who has exhibited internationally. He paints in his studio in Santa Fe and lives in Pojoaque Pueblo with his wife, Melissa and their children.
“These paintings reflect a pattern of evolution and change. The images are powerful, imposing, juxtaposed with swirling gestural paint marks and drips. Timeless, archaic elements of Pueblo culture are juxtaposed with contemporary abstract expressionist palette knife and brush work. Overall, the paintings develop a rhythmic, hypnotic, trancelike feeling which is referential to the metaphysical space of the Pueblo and the dance itself.” MR
