Round Up the West at Black Diamond Curio

DARRYL NICHOLSON believes the West is not just a place, but a state of mind. “It’s about fresh starts and new beginnings,” says the co-owner of Black Diamond Curio, in Santa Fe.

The ethos helps Nicholson and his partner, Paul Wilcox, curate their bright, 1,800-square-foot shop with a whimsical mix of contemporary and vintage goods made throughout the Southwest—from Los Poblanos bath and body products to turquoise and silver jewelry. Oversized art books feature New Mexico icons like designer Alexander Girard and painter Agnes Martin, while the walls display playful pieces like Campbell’s Green or Red Chile Soup prints that riff on Andy Warhol’s series. Other finds include denim placemats, a collection of New Mexico town-themed trucker hats, Santa Fe tees, and ceramics by Logan Wannamaker.

Both born in the West, the duo spent 15 years in New York City working in advertising and technology before opening a shop in Taos in 2018. They relocated to Santa Fe in 2020 and launched Black Diamond Curio on San Francisco Street in 2021. “The shop is a modern take on the western lifestyle,” Nicholson says. “It’s about culture, food, design, and history.” 

Nicholson, who created the shop’s soup-can prints and some of the T-shirt designs, enjoys working with local artists and small businesses. “Our customers are excited when we get to tell a story about how it’s all made,” he says, “handmade and well-crafted.”