Diego Romero was one of the potters around 1990 to break away from more classic shapes and styles of pottery. He returned to a pre-contact style of Mimbres culture (1100’s in southwest New Mexico) and was inspired by the open bowl shape. This has been his “canvas” throughout most of his career.  As Diego has said about himself:

“Fate brought me to Otellie Loloma who taught me traditional pottery, which deep down, I had always wanted to learn. 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.”  Diego Romero “Diego Romero v. The End of Art“.

This piece is entitled, “Untitled Bowl”.  It is part of his series about the Pueblo world before and after the Pueblo Revolt.  This piece is a larger version of a scene created in another piece (see the last photo).  The Spanish drink while the Pueblo men build the church and carry the cross. This bowl has the Pueblo man carrying the cross with the church in the background. The inside rim of the bowl is a checkerboard pattern painted with gold luster.  The outside is polished and white.  It is signed on the rim, “Chongo Made Me, Chongo Painted Me”.  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Diego is currently the subject of a major exhibition of his work at the Museum of Indian Art and Culture in Santa Fe, NM.  Click here to see more about the exhibit.