Historic American Art Colonies: SSanta Fe Art Colony

Santa Fe Art Colony

(above: Leon Kroll, Santa Fe Hills, 1917, oil on canvas, 26 x 32 inches, American Museum of Western Art. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Please click here to see artworks by artists affiliated with the Santa Fe Art Colony

Articles and essays from Resource Library:

Southwestern Allure: The Art of the Santa Fe Art Colony (10/9/13)

Canyon Road and the Santa Fe Art Colony (10/31/05)

Women Artists of Santa Fe; essay by Michael R. Grauer (11/26/04)

Albert H. Schmidt: Lost and Found in Santa Fe (7/19/04)

The Old Guard: Santa Fe Art Colony Founders (12/1/03)

Portals: Visual Delights Along Santa Fe's Canyon Road photo essay by John Hazeltine (6/97)

Northern New Mexico Diary photo essay by John Hazeltine (6/97)

(above: Unidentified photographer, Canyon Road entrance of the Gerald Cassidy house, Santa Fe, New Mexico, c. 1936- 39, Works Progress Administration Photographic Department. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

From other websites:

"Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway and the Santa Fe Art Community" from Santa Fe Scene. [Link found to be expired as of 2015 audit. TFAO is saving the citation for use by researchers.]

Founding the Santa Fe Art Colony, by Michael Ettema, from Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery. Accessed July, 2015

"How the Santa Fe Art Colony Began," an article by Suzanne Deats, from Collectors' Guide. Accessed July, 2015

Southwestern Allure: The Art of the Santa Fe Art Colony, held October 8, 2013 - December 29, 2013 at the Boca Museum of Art, and subsequently held from April 25, 2014 - July 27, 2014 at the New Mexico Museum of Art. Accesed May, 2014 from websites of both museums. Accessed July, 2015

(above: Gerald Cassidy, View of Santa Fe Plaza in the 1850s, c. 1930, oil on canvas, New Mexico Museum of Art. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Remarks about Santa Fe's Canyon Road

Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is one of the most iconic art districts in the United States, renowned for its rich history, vibrant arts scene, and unique Southwestern cultural blend. This historic half-mile stretch is lined with more than 80 galleries, studios, and boutiques, attracting artists, collectors, and visitors from around the world.

Early History

Originally, Canyon Road was a residential area in the late 1700s and early 1800s, home to Indigenous, Spanish, and Mexican settlers. It was part of the Camino Real, the royal road that connected Mexico City to Santa Fe. Early residents of Canyon Road used the nearby Santa Fe River for water, and many of their adobe homes and small farms lined the road, creating a close-knit community with a distinctly Spanish-Mexican heritage.

The Transformation into an Art District

The transformation of Canyon Road into an art hub began in the early 20th century. By the 1920s, Santa Fe had started to attract artists drawn to the area's natural beauty, Pueblo architecture, and rich local culture. Painters, sculptors, and writers were inspired by the distinctive Southwestern landscape and the vibrant colors of New Mexico, which contrasted with the muted tones of traditional European and American art scenes. Artists such as Randall Davey, Fremont Ellis, and Will Shuster settled in Santa Fe, helping to establish the city's reputation as an artists' colony.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s further fueled the local art scene by funding various public art projects, which helped many artists survive during the Great Depression. This period solidified Santa Fe's reputation as a haven for creativity and artistic expression, and the legacy of WPA-era art still lingers on Canyon Road.

Post-War Boom and Growth

After World War II, Canyon Road's status as an art district blossomed. In the 1950s and 60s, Santa Fe's art community expanded significantly, attracting more artists who opened galleries along Canyon Road. This growth was driven partly by a nationwide interest in Indigenous and Western art and culture, and Santa Fe became a place where art collectors could find unique pieces reflecting Native American, Spanish, and Anglo-American influences. Over time, Canyon Road diversified, encompassing not only Southwestern and Native American art but also contemporary, abstract, and modern art.

Canyon Road Today

Today, Canyon Road is an international destination known for its eclectic mix of art styles, including traditional Native American pottery and jewelry, Southwestern landscapes, and avant-garde pieces. The street is also known for hosting community art events like the annual Christmas Eve Farolito Walk, where thousands gather to enjoy the candle-lit streets, art, and holiday cheer.

In essence, Canyon Road has become a space that celebrates the intersections of Indigenous, Hispanic, and Anglo-American cultures and art traditions, making it an essential part of Santa Fe's identity and one of the most beloved art destinations in the country.

...from ChatGPT

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Links to sources of information outside of our web site are provided only as referrals for your further consideration. Please use due diligence in judging the quality of information contained in these and all other web sites. Information from linked sources may be inaccurate or out of date. TFAO neither recommends or endorses these referenced organizations. Although TFAO includes links to other web sites, it takes no responsibility for the content or information contained on those other sites, nor exerts any editorial or other control over them. For more information on evaluating web pages see TFAO's General Resources section in Online Resources for Collectors and Students of Art History.

*Tag for expired US copyright of object image:

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