Meet Eric Romero

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eric Romero. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eric below.

Eric, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience for a New Mexican is a birthright. To be a New Mexican artist means to continue a legacy of resilience through opposition. The cultural background is so complex and nuanced that art has been a cornerstone of the New Mexican experience. We live in the high desert where it can get to 105 degrees in the summer, and drop to sub zero in the winter. We eat fire in our New Mexican chile, and come back for seconds. Our very existence here in our home is a perfect example of how we can adapt to extreme conditions and thrive.

I paint because I am compelled to do so, its not only a want, but a need. In the face of so many obstacles, through many failures and successes. I wont stop until my eyes close for the final time.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am an Oil Painter based in Albuquerque New Mexico. I have painted for 11 years now, 7 of those being a full time artist. During that time my art has been featured in the National Mexican Art Museum in Chicago, Chicano Park Museum in San Diego, Couse- Sharp Museum in Taos, and most recently the National Hispanic Cultural Museum here in Albuquerque. Throughout the years I have participated in so many group shows, galleries and exhibitions but it was always a goal of mine to have work in Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico. Where I will be having a Solo Show on May 30th, 2025. I have had the honor to mentor artists locally, will be teaching a course on Chicano Futurism this next semester and taken up an activist role to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of our people here in New Mexico.

This next year is very exciting for my practice as I will be showing in Santa Fe, San Antonio and Salt Lake in 2025. My process is very involved with the people and art community around me, I consider myself lucky to be creating alongside artists as we continue the legacy of New Mexican Art.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The advice I give to all my mentees.

Embrace the struggle.

Nurture the inspiration, give it time to breathe and grow.

Remember that we create because we love, trust in your process and believe in your love.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

As most working artists know the balance between career and family life is devastating. I tried to achieve balance since my daughter was born. I realized last year that balance does not exist. I support my family through my art and the most important lesson I have learned is to be PRESENT. I am with my family, I am with them mind, body and soul, and the same with my art. There are times when one aspect is getting a lot more time than the other and that is okay. Its alright to be unbalanced and unorganized. Life is not perfect and our expectations should not be either. When I finally realized this, the pressure was gone and I had the freedom to enjoy my time with my family and with my practice.

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