Nude person with braided hair and calf length shoes sits crouched, facing down, on a red geometric patterned backdrop. The person’s arms pressed together to cover their body.

Cara Romero

NIKKI
Recent Acquisition

Maker

Cara Romero (Chemehuevi, b. 1977)

Title

NIKKI

Year

2014

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Dimensions

Image: 94 x 109.2 cm (37 x 43 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Inscription: Recto: inscribed in black ink: LL: “AP-II”; LC: “NIKKI”


Signature: Recto, LR in black ink: Cara Romero

Identification

Edition

AP 2/2, Edition of 5

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Walter H. Kimball Fund

Object Number

2022.91

Type

Exhibition History

Diné Textiles
Nizhónígo Hadadít’eh, They are Beautifully Dressed
Sep 02, 2023 – Sep 29, 2024

Label copy

The figure in this photograph crouches in a position that can be interpreted as powerful, protective, and life-giving. Nikki serves as a visual metaphor for the multilayered and complex experiences of Diné women past, present, and future.

Diné society is matriarchal, and weaving is a source of great pride for Diné women. The prominence of the textile in this photo signals a deep connection to the cultural knowledge and practices embedded within the weaving itself. The figure’s pose reinforces this connection by mimicking the bold red diamond pattern. Her braids also resemble the zigzagging black lines in the eye-dazzler design.




Image use

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In copyright This object is in copyright

Tombstone

Cara Romero (Chemehuevi, b. 1977)
NIKKI, 2014
Pigment printed on Epson Legacy Platine paper
Image: 94 x 109.2 cm (37 x 43 inches)
Walter H. Kimball Fund 2022.91

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