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 ...