A new exhibition at Manitou Galleries in Santa Fe will highlight new artwork by Southern Keresan Cochiti Pueblo painter Mateo Romero. Places of Power will shine a spotlight on Romero’s extraordinary contributions as a contemporary Pueblo artist as well as his deeply rooted connection to his Southern Keresan Cochiti heritage.
Acoma Series, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 in.
“Born in Berkeley, California…Mateo’s work masterfully bridges urban and Pueblo cultural experiences. With an MFA in printmaking from the University of New Mexico and tutelage under celebrated artists like Ben Frank Moss, Mateo has honed a distinct artistic voice that resonates internationally,” the gallery notes. “His creations, infused with the essence of the Rio Grande Pueblo world, explore themes of identity, place and resilience. Places of Power offers viewers a profound opportunity to engage with Mateo’s award-winning artistry and his vision of cultural storytelling that transcends borders.”
San Geronimo, Series 1, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 in.
Taos, Series 4, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 in
Romero’s paintings, which capture various scenes of New Mexico and the Southwest, feature thick, impasto swaths of oil paint that create both a striking visual and tactile experience. Pieces like Acoma Series; San Geronimo, Series 1; and San Geronimo, Series 2 depict classic Southwest architecture, while Taos Series 4 and Ghost Ranch 1 depict stormy skies and various desert flora. His color palette is made up of deep, saturated tones that leap off the canvas.
San Geronimo, Series 2, oil on canvas, 20 x 20 in.
Ghost Ranch 1, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 in.
“These paintings are taken from classic Northern New Mexico landscapes: Taos Pueblo, Santa Geronimo church, [with] thunder clouds overhead,” says Romero. “I use heavy, muscular oil paint and a palette knife to capture the bold, direct energy of these spaces. Color and temperature reflect shadow and light. I want the viewer to experience the timelessness of the high desert.”
Places of Power opens with a reception on Thursday, August 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. and hangs through August 25. —
Manitou Galleries
August 14-25, 2025
123 W. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 986-0440, www.manitougalleries.com
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