Mateo Romero
Mateo Romero (1966 - present)
Born Mateo Romero on December 9, 1966, in Berkeley, CA. He is a Cochiti Pueblo Native American, whose native name is He-tse-tewa, which means "War Shield"
He grew up in an artistic family; his father Santiago Romero was an artist, his grandmother Teresita Chavez Romero was a ceramicist, and his brother Diego Romero is also an artist!
Studied painting and art history at Dartmouth College, attended the Institute of American Indian Arts, and received a MFA in print making from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Known for creating works that serve as social commentary on modern day Pueblo Native American life.
You can learn more about Mateo Romero and see more of his artwork by exploring his website. He will often find an old photograph as inspiration for his paintings, he shares his process in this video. The image Cochiti Redskins is on view at the MFA in the Art of the Americas wing. It depicts a Cochiti Pueblo minor league baseball team from the early 20th century named the Redskins, and was painted from an old photograph. This name is no longer considered appropriate, and Mateo Romero has advocated for professional sports teams to change their names from using Native American images and terms to more appropriate team names and mascots. In 2021, the Cleveland Indians baseball team changed their name to the Cleveland Guardians. In 2022, the Washington Redskins football team changed their name to the Washington Commanders.
What do you notice? ✏️ What do you wonder? ✏️ What do you like or dislike?
Mateo Romero.pdf