Cara Romero Photography

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Cara Romero Photography

Cara Romero is a Chemehuevi photographer creating monumental fine art photographs. Gallery in Santa Fe

Born in Inglewood, CA in 1977, Cara was raised on the Chemehuevi Valley Indian reservation along the California shoreline of Havasu Lake in the heart of the Mojave Desert, and later, Houston, TX, and Santa Fe, NM. Cara’s work reflects her diverse training in film, digital, fine art, journalism, editorial portraiture and commercial photography. She shows at both the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Art Market. She has won several awards including ribbons at both major markets and the “Visions for the Future “ award from the Native American Rights Fund. Her work is featured year round at the Robert Nichol's Gallery of Santa Fe. Cara lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is married to Cochiti potter Diego Romero.

10/28/2026

I’m honored to share that I was selected as a Creative Capital Awardee for When Animals Were People, which is a multi-year project with my Chemehuevi community. I am back in the dark room, shooting more film, printing by hand, and thinking of how these photo essays move between still images, film, and installation. Link in bio to request catalog and small format images are available for purchase.
Leah Mata-Fragua and I hosted a six-day workshop on the reservation this month with the Tribe’s ASAP Department. Young people processed yucca, tule, and shells. They prepared pine nuts and made masks, then we photographed and filmed together.
The heart of the project is returning to cultural practice and community. It teaches our young people how to work with the materials our ancestral stories are made from, and ensures the knowledge is passed on as it always has: within our own community, from one generation to the next.

10/23/2026

I had the opportunity to be in conversation with Amy Scott Amy Scott at The Autry The Autry on Sunday, October 18th. It was a great interview about intention, process and narrative in a handful of works. The Autry has an exhibit called, “Life, Liberty and LA centered on America’s 250th,” and shifts the focus westward. Instead of the familiar East Coast origin stories… this exhibit positions LA’s histories of exclusion, displacement, and protest. I’m honored to have “Oil & Gold” in the show. Luckily, I got to visit the Autry and work with my close friend and collaborator Leah Mata-Fragua. Our daughters, Crickett and Naomi, show up in many of my photographs, both as themselves and as placeholders for bigger ideas we share. Los Angeles is my birthplace and where my parents and grandparents grew up before moving back to the reservation in the late 70s. My Uncle Gary and Aunt Sandie came to see the talk and it was extra special to have them there 🫶🏼

10/01/2026

On its third stop 🩷 Cara Romero: Panǔpunüwügai (Living Light) opens at MOCA-Jacksonville tonight, October 1st! It’s been a great week with an incredible staff and Jami Powell working on the installation.

09/23/2026

Cara is excited to join Casterline | Goodman Gallery at The Armory Show 2026 on September 24–27, 2026, at the Javits Center in New York City. This is Cara’s first time being represented at The Armory Show! She is thankful for the staff and clientele who made this a reality. If you are in the area, make sure to check out her artwork.

09/22/2026

We have installed the new exhibition and are excited to announce the Black and White Show. This exhibition draws back to Cara’s foundation of working with black-and-white film and spans about 10 years. The exhibition opens September 25, 2026 with the opening reception at 3-5PM.

“If it doesn’t work in black and white, it doesn’t work in color.” -Jerry Poppenhouse

This exhibition focuses on light, form, and shadow. The images featured are some of the strongest in her portfolio and some have never been seen.

Opening reception 9/25 from 3-5!

05/17/2026

The panel and show with Jody Folwell, , , .koenig , and was a fantastic dialogue about being disruptive and forging ahead with thought provoking work while being true to self and vulnerable. They covered so much and inspired so much thought and reminded us to make the art that satiates our souls.

04/26/2026

Thank you for bringing me and my work to . It’s exciting to show alongside so many incredible photographers and galleries. I love how enthusiastic the crowd is about the medium and always takes me back to first falling in love with photography. Today is the final day ‘til next year, so swing by the to see it. 🩵🎞️

04/23/2026

I am delighted to be showing work with Scheinbaum & Russek ( ) at The Photography Show presented by AIPAD ( ) at Booth C6. JOIN US this Saturday, April 25th at 2:30 PM for a talk about my work followed by a book signing of Panûpünüwügai (Living Light), published by Radius Books (.books ).

📍 Park Avenue Armory, Booth C6
643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065
🎙️ Artist talk on Saturday, April 25 at 2:30 PM
✍️ Followed by a book signing of Panûpünüwügai at 3:00 PM
Planning to attend? Please email [email protected] to request pass information.

Address

333 Montezuma Avenue , #5
Santa Fe, NM
87501

Website

http://www.cararomero.com/

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