Charles M. Carrillo» (1956 - )
The son of educators, Charles Carrillo» is a scholar who received a doctorate in anthropology and archeology from UNM. He initially worked as an archeologist but as he became immersed in the cultural life in the northern New Mexican community of Abiquiú he began to make santos and by the early 1980's, Carrillo realized his true calling. Carrillo has researched the techniques, materials and subject matter of early santeros and today is not only a recognized authority but also a renowned santero. The NEA honored him in 2006. Photo Courtesy of Tradicion Revista

Helen Cordero» (1915 - 1994):
Cochiti artist Helen Cordero» hailed from a Pueblo with a centuries old ceramics tradition but did not begin to make pottery until she was forty-five years old. Never satisfied with her attempts at traditional shapes or functional ceramics, she followed her cousin's advice and tried her hand at making figures. Initially Cordero made animals and small, individual figures. Then, she created the storyteller figure, a male figure with children seated upon him. Cordero was remembering her grandfather, Santiago Quintana, who was a great storyteller and was often surrounded by many children. The NEA honored Cordero in 1986. Photo by Tom Pich

Frances Varos Graves» (1910 - 1999): The embroidery artist Francis Varos Graves relied on timeless methods of using naturally dyed churro wool to create all over colcha patterns reminiscent of embroidery from an earlier time. Graves» was an innovator. She reused or recycled deteriorating pieces of naturally dyed wool from aging Rio Grande weavings. Graves also stitched figurative images and used them as the main characters or subjects of her colcha. The NEA honored her in 1994. Photo by William T. Geiger

George López» (1900 - 1993):
George López of Córdova, New Mexico, was a sixth generation wood carver» and son of master santero José Dolóres López. Although he began carving in 1925, George was fifty-two before he became a full-time carver of santos. He is known for his many religious images as well as his intricately carved Trees of Life, one of which was created from 395 individual pieces. The NEA honored him in 1982. Photo by T. Harmon Parkhurst.

Ramón José López» (1951 - ):
Master artist Ramón José López of Santa Fe is a self-taught artist in many of the New Mexican traditions, including the art of the santero, silversmithing, and hide painting. López has continued to use many carving tools that belonged to his santero grandfather who died two years before López was born. The NEA honored him in 1997. Photo by Tom Pich

Esther Martinez» (1912 - 2006): Storyteller Esther Martinez of Ohkay Owingeh carried on the age-old oral tradition of telling the folk tales of her Pueblo. Martinez» was also a linguist and a teacher who was a major conservator of the Tewa language. She compiled Tewa dictionaries for each of the pueblos to reflect the distinct dialects and to preserve the various forms of their oral traditions. The NEA honored her in 2006. Photo courtesy of the artist

Roberto & Lorenzo Martinez»
(1929 - ; 1954 - ): Roberto Martínez is a musician, singer and songwriter who also passed his knowledge and love of music down to his son, Lorenzo, who showed interest in the traditional songs of Northern New Mexico. Together they perform traditional New Mexican music and also Mexican mariachi music with the ensemble Los Reyes de Albuquerque». Created by Roberto in 1962, Los Reyes de Albuquerque have kept the music alive for future generations. The NEA honored them in 2003. Photo courtesy of the artist

Eliseo & Paula Rodriguez» (1915 - 2009; 1915 - 2008): Well-known revival artists in Straw appliqué and painting, Eliseo and Paula Rodríguez are credited with being the first to incorporate figurative motifs into their straw appliqué. Earlier forms of applicación de paja from the late 1700's through the late 1800's were decorated with geometric and floral or vine-like elements. Eliseo and Paula» incorporated the saints and biblical scenes so that each piece told a story. The NEA honored them in 2004.

Emilio & Senaida Romero»
(1910 - 1998; 1909 - 2001):
Emilio and Senaida both came from families with strengths in tinsmithing. Senaida's family was also steeped in colcha embroidery. Their marriage brought together the two crafts. Together, they created an entirely new style of tinwork that many contemporary artists rely upon today. The Romeros» elevated crafts that were considered solely utilitarian to a new aesthetic level, which suited a new century, as well as a new audience. The NEA honored them in 1987. Photo by Tom Pich.

Margaret Tafoya» (1904 - 2001): Santa Clara potter Margaret Tafoya» continued a 1,500 year ceramics tradition passed from generation to generation. Her parents were expert clay artists and she and her mother were known for their ability to make exceptionally large jars that were over 30 inches high. Tafoya distinguished her work by creating highly polished carved surfaces that transformed the utilitarian tradition into an art form. The NEA honored her in 1984. Photo by Tom McCarthy.

Irvin Trujillo» (1954 - ) of Chimayó is a seventh generation weaver and the son of Chimayó weaving master Jacobo Ortega Trujillo. Irvin is both an innovator and master of the New Mexican weaving tradition. A civil engineer by education, Trujillo relentlessly studied ancient weaving techniques. In 1980 he and his wife Lisa founded the Centinela Traditional Arts studio» to advance the tradition in their Northern NM community. The NEA honored him in 2007. Photo courtesy of the artist

Cleofes Vigil»(1917 - 1992):
Cleofas Vigil of San Critóbal was a cantante (singer) of the religious alabados of Northern New Mexico. He was a self-taught musician» who could play the mandolin, violin, saxophone, clarinet and harmonica. He was a master teller of traditional stories, many of them he learned from his grandparents and community elders as he was growing up. The NEA honored him in 1984. Photo courtesy of the Ralph Rinzler, Folklife Archives & Collections