Frankie Nazario Lucero​
Frankie Nazario Lucero is a native Santa Fean whose family traces their roots back to the early 1600’s. Capitan Pedro Lucero de Godoy was the first of his family line to enter New Mexico. One of Lucero's cousins- Francisco Lucero de Godoy, presented La Conquistadora to the Santa Fe after the reconquest of Don Diego. The Lucero lineage has a proud and colorful history in Santa Fe. Frankie is one of seven children to Nabor and Victoria Lucero. The Lucero brothers are well known artisans. Frankie's mother, Victoria, is a colcha embroidery artist; brother David Nabor is the only back-to-back grand prize winner at Spanish Market; brother Jose has work sought after by collectors globally; brother Phillip hand carved bowls and vigas are exquisite work; and brother Richard tin work adorns many of Frankie's bultos. Frankie's children, Ernest and Jasmine, have also created traditional arts and exhibited at Spanish Market.
Frankie has long been an artist and from an early age knew that his true passion and calling in life was to create beautiful art. His eye for detail and ability to evoke emotion in his work have inspired many collectors around the world to acquire and to cherish his work. Inspired by his faith and by "the absolute complexity and beauty of nature", Frankie continues to grow as an artist and to constantly strive for artistic excellence.
Frankie's traditional Spanish Colonial style bultos, retablos, and reliefs have earned him numerous awards in the Spanish Market and the New Mexico State Fair. Frankie uses traditional techniques and materials, to create his arts, which have been used by Spanish Colonial artists since the early 18th century. The use of indigenous woods such as cottonwood root, sugar and ponderosa pine, and more recently Jelutong (an Indonesian wood that is very similar to cottonwood root) are the framework for his traditional craft. All his work is hand carved using chisels and gouges. To prepare his work for painting he makes his own gesso using animal hide glue and gypsum- some of it mined here in New Mexico. Frankie uses earth pigments and natural dyes to create his earthy pallet. Frankie uses a varnish made from pinon sap harvested from the local pinon trees and finishes his work with a beeswax finish.
Frankie has pieces in museums and private collections around the world. Frankie continues to share his craft and knowledge of the Spanish Colonial Arts with the Santa Fe community through programs such as Road Scholar, youth outreach classes and private sessions.
Frankie has a BA in secondary education and teaches at Mandela International Magnet School. Frankie plans to attain his Masters in Studio Arts. Frankie's studio and home are in the east side of Santa Fe in the home built by his grandfather, Nazario and his wife Carolina Lucero.
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E-mail: fnazario62@gmail.com
Phone: 505-231-3374
