Wolf Speaks to Mary is among the retablos by Virginia Maria Romero that seek to bridge the gap between the human and animal worlds. One of the very few non-Hispanic santeras to have an established reputation, Romero works in traditional style, using handmade gesso, pigments, and piñon sap. She is of Polish and Irish background, and was recognized in 2013 as a distinguished artist and poet by the American Council for Polish Culture. Her work is in the permanent collection of dozens of museums and churches, including that of Pope Benedict XVI and the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte in Florence, Italy; the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, and New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. She lives in Las Cruces with her husband, Alfonso P. Romero. Information: www.virginiamariaromero.com
