One of New Mexico’s most iconic artists, Gustave Baumann (1881-1971) first arrived in the state in 1918 and quickly became a beloved figure in the Santa Fe art community. Although the artist is best known for his woodblock prints, Baumann’s creativity extended to painting, sculpture, drawing, marionettes and furniture design. The New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe is honoring the artistic polymath with Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment,a multiple-gallery retrospective that examines the arc of his career with a focus on the physical, cultural and creative environments that shaped it. Organized thematically, the show focuses on Baumann’s connection with the region’s ecology and landscapes, his fascination with Puebloan and Hispano cultures, the playful narratives he brought to life through marionettes and his involvement with international modernist design movement.
Gustave Baumann (1881-1971), Cholla and Sahuaro (Saguaro), 1928, color woodcut, 12 3/16 x 12 7/8 in. Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Museum purchase with funds raised by the School of American Research, 1952 (907.23G). © New Mexico Museum of Art. Photo by Addison Doty.
Gustave Baumann (1881-1971), Santo Nino de Atocha, ca. 1940, carved and painted wood with leather, 10 x 5 x 3 in. Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Gift of Jane Baumann, 1978 (1994.16.44). © New Mexico Museum of Art.
His printmaking prowess will also be on full display. Featuring rarely exhibited preliminary sketches, color studies and process materials, visitors will be able to visualize the evolution of a print from its initial sketch to final impression.
“This exhibition is about more than one artist,” says the museum’s interim director Laura Mueller. “It’s about how an artist can help define a place—its spirit, its look, its stories—for generations. Baumann shaped how the world sees New Mexico, and how New Mexicans see themselves.” —
Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment
Through February 22, 2026
New Mexico Museum of Art
107 W. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 476-5063, www.nmartmuseum.org
Powered by Froala Editor
