Diego Romero vs. the End of Art

August 29th, 2019

(Santa Fe, New Mexico) – The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is pleased to welcome Diego Romero (Cochiti Pueblo) for his third exhibition at the museum titled, Diego Romero vs. the End of Art, opening October 6, 2019 until January 4, 2021. The exhibition will be the largest assemblage of Romero’s work, exploring his reflections on Native identity and history. Romero’s personal style combines Cochiti pottery techniques with graphic art influences, which together, create a narrative combating an allusive villain, the End of Art.

Romero studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and then with Ralph Becerra at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. He continued to a Master’s program at UCLA with Adrian Saxe who pushed Romero to create his unique style reflecting his multifaceted identity through narrative pots and lithographs.

Curator Antonio Chavarria brings the shadowy concept dubbed the End of Art to the forefront of the exhibition alongside Native Identity. With more than forty works on view, the show explores themes of war, women, family, substances, and art. With Romero’s unique style, Chavarria hopes to engage audiences that may not consider themselves traditional museum-goes. Youth, and particularly Native youth may identify with the materials as they center on the life of one Native artist as well as Native history.

“I once wanted to become a comic book artist, but fate brought me to Otellie Loloma who taught me traditional pottery, which deep down, I had always wanted to learn. Now, the two loves are fused into an art paradigm as unique as my own identity. Half Berkeley boy, half Cochiti man—making art on the perimeter. Being true to my imperfectness and honest unto myself has helped guide this journey of being an artist for 30 years now.”

Though Romero has exhibited previously at the museum, Diego Romero vs. the End of Art marks the first centering on his work. The exhibition will also include works from his family members, demonstrating their influence on him and his on them. Video interviews discussing Romero’s journey as an artist will play throughout the exhibition and the exhibition guide itself will be presented in graphic novel format, mirroring the world on view.

Diego Romero vs. the End of Art

Location: The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

Date: October 6, 2019 to January 4, 2021

Tickets: This event takes place during the first Sunday of the month, and so is free to New Mexico residents