The artist Leonardo Salazar Is the son of Leo Salazar, the famous present-day Santero from Taos, New Mexico. His Santos are carved from the cedar wood selected from the forests of northern New Mexico. As Salazar selects each piece of wood he visualizes the figure to be carved.
“Ancient people knew that cedar is a spiritual wood, even using it to decorate Pharaohs’ tombs. I express my love of the lord by carving the cedar.” —Leonardo Salazar
The artist Leonardo Salazar has been carving Santos for the last sixteen years. He has attended the College of Santa Fe and the University of New Mexico, majoring in Fine Arts. He moved to California. where he continued his work and studies, and has recently returned to his native New Mexico. He is a member of the Spanish Colonial Arts Society of Santa Fe.