(1956-Present)
Pueblos: Taos and Laguna Pueblos
Ken is a full-time contemporary jewelry artist, working in the arts for over two decades. His work has been described as being ‘Contemporary in Traditional Native Design.’ He has an Associate of Fine Arts Degree from the Institute of American Indian Arts and a BA from the California College of Art and Design.
Ken is known for his beautiful and intricately inlaid jewelry creations using semiprecious gemstones and cutting-edge designs. When he sits down to make a piece, the exact pattern of the inlay comes as he places one stone at a time and the piece takes on a life of its own. Through his work, he wants to convey the beauty and resilience of his pueblo ancestry. Many of the pieces in his inlay process take on the texture, feel, and look of a village, particularly multi-storied Taos Pueblo. Each piece is made entirely by Ken from start to finish.
“I design my pieces with inlay to look and feel like a village or pueblo building. I call this my pueblo village design inlay.” All of the jewelry is completed with Ken’s hallmark.
Ken is known for his beautifully wearable works of art. Romero has received numerous honors, including awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum Indian Fair & Market, Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, and SWAIA’s Santa Fe Indian Market. He resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.