Some of the most prominent and respected artists in New Mexico are also passing their skills down to the next generation. These artists include Jean Anaya Moya, Vanessa Zamora, Vincente Telles, Arthur Lopez, Eric Romero, Vanessa Alvarado, Rhonda Crispin, Cleo Romero, and more. Both the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC), in Albuquerque, and the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum (NMHAM), in Santa Fe, offer spaces for children and adults alike to learn from artists who are known for their dedication to Nuevo Mexicano art forms like colcha embroidery, retablos and bultos, tinwork, and straw applique.
Both Elena Baca, the education program manager at NHCC, and Jana Gottshalk, the curator and museum director at NMHAM, foster environments where these artists can engage in the community effort that keeps these traditional arts alive—and where kids can push the boundaries and express themselves in any artform of their choosing.
“What I love is the multi-generational part of showing kids art in our spaces—that our museum spaces aren’t just for adults with a certain resume or CV or exhibition record,” says Baca.
Gottshalk agrees. “I always include youth art in exhibits. It shows kids that they can have this connection there. … I think the Barella family is such a great example of passing down carving generation through generation. I mean, it started in the WPA era and now there’s like a 9-year-old who’s doing it, who I just bought a piece from.
Discover more:
National Hispanic Cultural Center Learning programming
National Hispanic Cultural Center Museum
Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum ongoing programming
Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum
Read more in El Palacio:
“Art and Activism at Highlands University,” by Myrriah Gόmez, in Winter 2025 issue of El Palacio magazine
Learn more:
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Encounter Culture, a production of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios.
Hosted by Emily Withnall, editor at El Palacio Magazine
Executive Producer: Daniel Zillmann
Technical Director & Post-Production Audio: Edwin R. Ruiz
Recording Engineer: Collin Ungerleider and Kabby at Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe
Editor & Production Manager: Alex Riegler
Associate Producer & Editor: Monica Braine (Assiniboine/Lakota)
Theme Music: D’Santi Nava
Instagram: @newmexicanculture and @elpalaciomagazine