The New Mexico Museum of Art first opened in 1917 off the Santa Fe Plaza and was the first building in the state dedicated to art. In 2023, the museum expanded its footprint to include the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary located in the Santa Fe Railyard Arts District. Each building offers visitors an astounding variety of artwork both from local artists as well as world renown artists.
Explore Two Iconic Art Destinations at New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe
The iconic Plaza building draws visitors both for the vast collection of but also for its Pueblo Revival style architecture and historic St. Francis Auditorium. The building is quintessentially Santa Fe. In striking contrast, the Vladem Contemporary is an innovative structure adapted from a historic warehouse.
For more than a century, the museum has served as a destination for contemporary art in the American Southwest, growing and evolving as artists and their artwork evolve. The museum knows that art is for everyone, and seeks to foster a deeper understanding and enjoyment of art. Landmark exhibitions, public programs, events, and bringing artists of all stature offer every visitor the chance to explore the human experience through art.
The museum’s near-constant rotation of inspiring exhibitions is a key draw for visitors. Rotating exhibitions showcase individual artists, specific collections, and even critical time periods in art history. Selections from the 20th Century Collection, a long-term exhibition on view at the Plaza building, is the museum’s centerpiece and serves as beautiful introduction to the museum. Visitors can enjoy some of the finest examples of Southwestern Art by some of the region’s most beloved artists including Fritz Scholder, Gustave Baumann, and Georgia O’Keeffe, among many others.
A Space for 24/7 Viewing
The Vladem Contemporary also maintains rotating exhibitions, the Window Box installation, and its Frederick Hammersley Artist-in-Residence program. Continuum: Blindfall, First Strike is a current exhibition on view that highlights the work of Virgil Ortiz (American/Cochiti Pueblo) and Eric Garcia. This show brings attention to the 1680 Pueblo Revolt and uses art to explore the relationship between Pueblo and Spanish legacies. An additional landmark exhibition opening at the Vladem Contemporary September 5, 2026, is Reclaiming the Future: The Legacy of Japanese American Incarceration. A collaboration with ten Japanese and Japanese American artists, the show traces the histories that are embedded in communities across New Mexico. A combination of sculpture, paintings, photographs, video, and mixed media, visitors can explore the relationship between history and place.
The museum is also committed to offering arts programming year-round. The Window Box installation allows visitors access to a miniature exhibition 24/7, accessible by walking to the front entrance. The Artist-in-Residence program brings rising artists to the museum both to create art and to facilitate community engagement programs to increase access to new art and artists. The museum also remains committed to hosting family-friendly events including workshops, demonstrations, and artist talks.
Visit the New Mexico Museum of Art as a unique destination that brings the art of the world to New Mexico and the art of New Mexico to the world.
Article Sponsored by The State of New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
Buidling Photography by Tira Howard
Artist Photography by Mountain Mover Media (Kaela Waldstein)
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.
