Master woodcarver Ben Ortega passed his exceptional skills to his son Pete Ortega. Pete’s love of carving has made him a folk art legend in his own right.  It is his faith that inspires Pete to create pieces that depict religious figures in the traditional Spanish Colonial Santeros art form.

A visit to Pete's studio shows the meticulous attention to detail in every one of his carvings. Pete's most significant role model in developing his style was his father, the late Ben Ortega. In his home showroom, Pete shows us one of his father's first carvings, which was created decades ago for a fundraiser for the Santa Fe Opera. The rest is history, as they say, and Pete has taken the mantle of his father's work and elevated the traditional Santeros art form to a new level. 

Pete is passionate about his art, and he will carve any religious figure upon request. His work consists of saints, angels, urns and folk art. He works with cottonwood, cedar, aspen, pine, and driftwood. The shape and texture of each piece of wood add character and holds its own individual uniqueness.