New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM

The New Mexico Museum of Art is located at 107 West Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM. The museum is close to the historic Santa Fe Plaza. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5:00 pm and Monday through Sunday Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission to the museum is $6.00 for New Mexico residents and free on Sundays. Otherwise, adults are $9.00 and children under sixteen are free. Visitors can purchase museum passes and see what discounts are available.

The building that houses the New Mexico Museum of Art was built in 1917 and was designed to look like a 300 year old mission church at Acoma. The pueblo's architecture is graceful yet simple. The first art shows were held in the Palace of the Governors by archaeologist, Edgar Lee Hewett. However, he realized that a proper gallery was necessary to properly promote art in the region. Many of the original art that was displayed at the time the art gallery first opened are still on display. Because there was an open door policy many artists from different cultures displayed their artwork in the gallery. Artists come from Native American, European and Hispanic cultures.

Tours are available for groups and schools with a reservation. The tours can include a docent as a tour guide and there is no charge for the school groups and the chaperones. There are also docent tours for the general public daily at 10:30 am and 2:00 pm. Tours are free with the price of admission. Guests that visit Santa Fe from April through November can enjoy art walking tours. These are guided tours by a docent and highlight the art and architecture of Santa Fe. The tours are at 10:00 am Mondays and leave from the museum gift shop steps. These tours run on Fridays at 10:00 am, June through August. The price of these tours is $10.00 per person with children under eighteen free.

Some of the exhibits that are currently on display or have been displayed include: Gustave Baumann: A Santa Fe Legend; Memorial for John Connell and Ted Kuykendall; F.S.A. Photographers in New Mexico: John Collier, Jack Delano and Russell Lee; Museums in the 21st Century: Concepts, Projects, Buildings; How the West is One: The Art of New Mexico; Georgia O'Keeffe's Legacy in New Mexico and New Arrivals: Works from the Collection.

The West Sculpture Garden is next to the St. Francis Auditorium and the O'Shaughnessy sculpture garden. Both areas are next to the new wing and can be enjoyed on a leisurely walk. These areas can be rented for many different events.

There are programs and events that are sponsored by the museum. Lectures on Museums in the 21st Century is a free event and includes other lectures that pertain to landscape, buildings, concepts and projects in the 21st Century as well.

A museum shop sells licensed products which include books, museum logo ball caps, a tote bag and other art related objects.