Nicholas Herrera is what you might call a 'homegrown' artist. Born and raised in northern New Mexico, he is linked to the history of wood carving through his great uncle, Jose Inez Herrera, a respected santero.

Having survived some difficulties in his teen years, Nicholas Herrera's work was noticed by people in the local art world and he has been carving since that fortuitous beginning.

Although rooted in traditional wood carving in New Mexico and using the same materials, his work breaks with that tradition by commenting on contemporary culture with humor, satire and at times, political statements.

In March of 2006 Mr. Herrera was interviewed by a representative of the Smithsonian Art Museum, and as a result, his work will become part of the permanent collection.

HIs work is also included in the Museum of American Folk Art in New York, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, the Western Heritage Museum, the Harwood Museum, Regis University, Millicent Rogers Museum and the Museum of International Folk Art.

Known as El Rito Santero (the Saint Maker of El Rito), Nicholas Herrera creates retablos, bultos, sculptures and large-scale mixed media works delving into personal identity, family history, relationship to place, and political ideology. Herrera is notably prolific, his oeuvre diverse, ranging from contemporary interpretations of saints, crucifixes and death figures to idyllic New Mexican pastoral scenes. Complementing his history of generations-long artistic traditions, he also fearlessly reflects on modern concerns such as police brutality, drug culture and the dangers of nuclear power.

Herrera's family was among the earliest settlers in the region. He grew up around the Spanish traditions of Northern New Mexico and came of age with a fast-paced lifestyle that resulted in a serious car accident at the age of 26. After awakening in the hospital and recovering from a coma, Herrera felt called to become a saint maker. He has since become one of the most revered folk artists in the United States. His art is featured in over 40 museums worldwide, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Nicholas has also been referenced or written about in hundreds of books and publications, including two biographies. He has also received numerous awards and recognition, including the 2006 Award of Distinction from the Folk Art Society of America.

Still a 'village artist." Herrera continues to reside, regenerate, and create on the land of his family in New Mexico.

SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS:

Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, New Mexico, 2016

National Folk Art Society, National Award of Distinction, 2006

SELECTED COLLECTIONS:

Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Albuquerque, NM

American Folk Art Museum, New York, NY

American History Art Museum, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC

Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Couse-Sharp Historic Site, Taos, NM

DePaul University Museum, Chicago, IL

El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM

El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY

Espanola Convento Museum, Espanola, NM

Flatwater Folk Art Museum, Brownsville, NE

Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO

Fowler Museum, University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Gene Autry Museum of American Heritage, Los Angeles, CA

Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

Harwood Museum of Art, Taos, NM

Herberger College of Fine Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

La Inglesia de Ojo Caliente Museum, Ojo Caliente, NM

Longwood Center for the Visual Art, Farmville, VA

Luce Foundation Center for American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

Malvern College, Music Building, Worcestershire, England

Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM

Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI

Museum of American Folk Art, New York, NY

Museum of Heritage and Arts, Los Lunas, NM

Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, NM

Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts, Santa Fe, NM

National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL

Pecos National Historic Park, Pecos, NM

Price Tower Arts Center, Bartlesville, OK

Regis University Collection of New Mexican Santos, Denver, CO

Ross Art Museum, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH

San Andrea Della Valle Theatine General House, Rome, Italy

Sangre De Cristo Art Center, Pueblo, CO

Santa Fe Children's Museum, Santa Fe, NM

Sheldon Museum of Arts, Lincoln, NE

Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC

The Southern Ohio Museum, Kenny Galleries, Portsmouth, OH

Tia Collection, Santa Fe, NM Spanish Colonial Art Society Collection, Santa Fe, NM

Taylor Museum, Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, Colorado Springs, CO

The Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, IL

The Terra Foundation of American Art, Paris, France

University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE

William and Ann Oppenheimer Collection, Richmond, VA