Santa Fe, New Mexico is a city that has a rich history of architecture and art, and is known for its unique blend of traditional and modern styles.
In terms of architecture, Santa Fe is home to a style known as Santa Fe Modernism, which emerged in the 1930s and 1940s as a response to the city’s traditional adobe architecture. Santa Fe Modernism is characterized by its use of modern materials, such as steel and glass, and its incorporation of the natural landscape into the design of buildings. Some of the most well-known Santa Fe Modernist architects include John Gaw Meem, who designed many of the city’s most famous buildings, including the New Mexico State Capitol and the University of New Mexico campus, and William Lumpkins, who designed many private homes and public buildings.
In terms of art, Santa Fe is known for its vibrant art scene, which has roots in the city’s long history as a cultural crossroads. Santa Fe is home to many galleries and museums, including the Museum of International Folk Art, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and the SITE Santa Fe contemporary art space. The city is also known for its annual Santa Fe Indian Market, which showcases the work of Native American artists from around the country.
In addition to the city’s architecture and art, Santa Fe is known for its unique blend of cultures and traditions, which have been shaped by the city’s long history as a trading center and cultural crossroads. Today, Santa Fe remains a vibrant and eclectic city that is beloved by artists, architects, and visitors from around the world.
Santa Fe Modern – The Book
“Santa Fe Modern: Contemporary Design in the High Desert” by Helen Thompson and photography by Casey Dunn . Editing by Elizabeth White at Monacelli Press. Forward by Laura Carpenter.
The book surveys new design and architecture movements in Santa Fe. My painting Walkyries featured in the collection of the Hunt residence.
“The architects featured draw from the New Mexican architectural heritage–they use ancient materials such as adobe in combination with steel and glass, and they apply this language to the proportions and demands exacted by today’s world.
The houses they have designed are confident examples of architecture that is particular to the New Mexico landscape and climate, and yet simultaneously evoke the rigorous expressions of modernism. The vigor and the allure of modern art and architecture hearten each other in a way that is visible and exciting, and this book demonstrates the synergistic relationship between art, architecture, and the land.”
—Monacelli Press, Santa Fe Modern
Other surveys and other books include Santa Fe Literary Review; and Contemporary Art of the Southwest