About

For more than three decades, Nicolas Otero has dedicated his life to the art and preservation of New Mexico’s santo tradition. Beginning his apprenticeship at age sixteen, he learned the historic practices of carving, painting, and devotional image-making that have been passed down through generations of Santeros. Today, his work reflects a deep respect for ancestral knowledge, craftsmanship, and faith. His artwork is held in private and institutional collections, including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino, recognizing his contribution to the preservation of New Mexico’s rich artistic heritage. Through his studio practice, teaching, conservation work, and public presentations, Otero helps ensure these traditions remain vibrant for future generations.

Nicolas Otero

Nicolas Otero (b. 1981, Silver City, New Mexico) is a Santero who practices and preserves the traditional arts of santo making. He began painting santos at 16, apprenticing in high school with renowned Santera Rhonda Crespin, and has produced retablos (carved flat panels), bultos (threedimensional wood carvings), altars, and hide paintings. Deeply versed in historic methods and natural pigments, he is committed to maintaining traditions that keep the memory of ancestors alive.

A working artist and educator, Nicolas serves as Department Leader of Visual Arts at Bosque School, where he designed courses such as “Art Alchemy” to guide students through historical materials, methods, and histories. He attended both Western New Mexico University and the University of New Mexico, receiving a degree in Arts Education. He teaches both middle and upper school—specifically Advanced Painting and Drawing, Art Alchemy, Portfolio, and 7th grade art.

He also studies and practices conservation, having worked as a conservation technician to stabilize and sustain devotional artworks from New Mexico and other historic regions. Other mentors and inspirations have included Master Santeros and friends Alcario Otero, Ramon Jose Lopez, Victor Goler, Charlie Carrillo, Arlene Sena, Felix Lopez, Federico Prudencio, and Rhonda Crespin.

His work is held in institutional and private collections, including acquisition by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. He participated in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., in 2023, demonstrating the santo tradition—discussing its history and showing his work to visitors from around the globe. He has also had a painted ornament included on the annual White House Christmas Tree (White House Archives). He is represented by Blue Rain Gallery, a respected Santa Fe gallery known for championing important contemporary and traditional Southwest artists. He has curated exhibitions and presentations on traditional and innovative New Mexican arts and illustrated two children’s books by acclaimed author Rudolfo Anaya.

Recently awarded the Masters Award for Lifetime Achievement at age 45, Nicolas lives and maintains a studio in Los Lunas New Mexico, creating santos, carvings, and oneofakind works prized by collectors, churches, and art institutions. He studies historical works across museums, historic churches, and private collections to inform his practice, and is currently fabricating a largescale altar for St. Francis Church in Golden, NM. Continually inspired by his mentors and community, he works diligently to produce museumquality devotional and collectible works of art.

Education/ Work Experience

  • BA Elementary Art Education, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM “2007.
  • Smithsonian Institution Washington DC– Folklife Festival Fellow 2023
  • Conservation- Restoration of 18 th /19 th Century Historic Works of Art
  • Curator- Museum Exhibitions
  • Illustrator – Bilingual Children’s books “How Hollyhocks came to New Mexico” and “How Chile Came to New Mexico” Author: Rudolfo Anaya

Exhibitions/ Publications

  • 2022 2025- Guadalupe Street Feature Blue Rain Gallery Santa Fe.
  • 2009- Mariposa Gallery Nob Hill, Albuquerque NM

Awards/Honors

  • Masters Award for Lifetime Achievement – 2026
  • Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts – 2019
  • Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, Western New Mexico University Silver City NM
  • “Best of “Artist of Valencia County-Valencia County News Bulletin 2017, 2018, 2019

Spanish Market – Spanish Colonial Arts Society – Santa Fe NM

  • First Place – Bultos / Sculpture 2022
  • First Place -Gesso Relief 2022
  • Second Place – Bultos in Nicho 2019
  • First Place – Gesso Relief- 2018
  • Best of show – Altar Screen – 2017
  • Archbishops Award – Altar Screen – 2017
  • Artists Collaboration Award with Nicholas Madrid retablo in tin – 2017
  • Museum Purchase Award -collaboration – 2017
  • Spanish Market Poster Award – For the 2017 market poster image – 2016
  • Museum Purchase Award – Altar – (featured Poster for 2017) Museum of Spanish Colonial Art – 2016
  • Rafael Aragon Award – For Art that embraces the style of the 19th Century tradition of retablo painting in
  • New Mexico – 2015
  • Honorable Mention – Small Retablo Award – 2015
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2014
  • Honorable Mention – Small Retablos – 2014
  • First Place – Large Retablos – 2013
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2013
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2012
  • Second Place -Small Retablos – 2012
  • Curator’s Choice Award – 2012
  • Museum Purchase Award – 2012
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2011
  • Second Place- Small Retablos – 2011
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe Award – 2011
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2010
  • Second Place – Small Retablos – 2010
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe Award – 2010
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2009
  • Second Place – Altar screens – 2009
  • First Place – Large Retablos – 2008
  • Second Place- Small Retablos – 2008
  • Archbishop’s Award – 2007
  • Museum Purchase Award – 2007
  • Hispanic Heritage Award – 2007
  • First Place – Altar Screens – 2007
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2007
  • Honorable Mention – Large Retablos – 2006
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe Award – 2004
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe Award – 2003
  • First Place – Small Retablos – 2002
  • Second Place – Altar Screens – 2001
  • Youth Museum Purchase Award – Bultos – 1998
  • Youth Award – Bultos – 1998
  • Craftsmanship Award – 1998
  • Youth Museum Purchase Award – Retablos – 1997
Group Exhibitions
  • Chispa!- New Mexico’s Top Artists- La Fonda Hotel, Santa Fe NM
  • “Saints From a Land So Remote”- Landshut Germany
  • Good Hands Gallery- Santa Fe NM
  • Sacred Arts Exhibition- Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Traditional Spanish Market- Santa Fe NM
  • Miniatures and More- Albuquerque Museum of Art, Albuquerque NM
  • Religious Arts Exhibition-Saint Thomas Aquinas, Avondale AZ
  • Sacred Arts Exhibition- Saint Augustine Florida
  • The Holy Dozen- Blue Sage Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona
  • Spanish Market-The Herd Museum, Phoenix Arizona
  • Ahora / Now- National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque NM
  • The Corazon is rising- College of St. Johns, Santa Fe NM
Museum Collection
  • Smithsonian: National Museum of the American Latino – Washington DC
  • Denver Art Museum – Denver, Colorado
  • Regis University Museum – Denver, Colorado
  • Taylor Museum – Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Museum of Spanish Colonial Art – Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • College of Saint Catherine – Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • White House : Archive Collections – Washington DC
  • Colorado University Art Museum – Boulder, Colorado
  • Albuquerque Museum of Art and History – Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Denver Museum of Nature and Science – Denver, Colorado
  • The Museum of International Folk Art – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Church Collection
  • Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis – Santa Fe, NM
  • Saint Paulʼs Church – Salem, New York
  • Saint Francis of Assisi – Golden, NM
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary Church – Grand Junction, Colorado
  • Santa Maria De La Paz Catholic Church – Santa Fe, NM
  • Saint Tomas Aquinas Church – Avondale, AZ
  • Saint Julie Billiart Church – Newbury Park, CA
Public Collection
  • The White House -(Archives)
  • City of Albuquerque – Public Works Collection.
  • The Luna Mansion Historic Site- (Los Lunas) Mural