Santa Fe’s outdoor art is a feast for the senses [PHOTO ESSAY]

Santa Fe is well-known nationally and internationally as an art mecca. With several hundred galleries, numerous art museums and annual art events, the “City Different” is a hotbed of creativity.

Everywhere you go in this famed New Mexican town, you’ll discover that art is embedded in the fabric of society. Simply strolling the streets will give you plenty of opportunities to see art in a variety of different forms and media. 

Start with a leisurely walk along historic Canyon Road. This noted area boasts more than eighty galleries, studios and designers, as well as an eclectic assortment of restaurants and shops, all within a magical half mile. You won’t be able to go a few steps without encountering fine art from artists throughout the U.S. and around the globe. The selection features everything from traditional to abstract contemporary.

As you meander this “Road Creative,” with its old world, adobe architecture, colors and textures pop from the many outdoor installations. Sculptures in wood, bronze, stone, steel and glass dot the streets in front of galleries, in courtyards and picturesque pocket gardens. 

Animals, Native American figures, iconic Western symbols and whimsical children at play are just a few of the subjects on display, in miniature to jaw-dropping massive renditions. There’s even kinetic wind art, a guaranteed show-stopper when the breeze makes them spin like whirling dervishes. 

Distinctive Santa Fe aesthetics, like turquoise painted doors and window trim, and chile ristras hanging from the eaves of buildings, add to this visual tapestry. 

Art also abounds at the entrances of museums, outside restaurants and storefronts, in parks, and within dedicated sculpture gardens around town. Such gardens are typically associated with artist studios and can represent an individual artist’s work or that of multiple artists. Several are open to the public to peruse. And if you like what you see, you can always make a memorable purchase!

The acre-and-a-half sculpture park at Prescott Gallery, for example, is a folk and pop art lover’s dream. Artist Frederick Prescott’s bold, multi-dimensional work contrasts the real with the imaginary. The Santa Fe man infuses humor and whimsy into each life-sized and often larger-than-life steel piece. Brilliant colored creatures range the property; their body parts moving naturally with the wind, creating a safari on parade. It’s easy to see why Prescott’s sculptures appeal to everyone from young kids to sophisticated collectors.

Nearby, in the charming village of Tesuque, are two outdoor sculpture gardens worthy of a visit. At Shidoni, you’ll be greeted by an array of unique art, arranged across a peaceful expanse of green. Styles include abstract, realism, found object and functional kinetic. Sculptures represent both local and nationally known artists and are made of bronze, stainless steel, copper, iron and mixed media. Several organically-designed fountains contribute to the serene setting. This is the kind of place where you can wander and ponder, as you soak up the marvelous art.

Glenn Green Galleries (currently open by appointment), also in Tesuque, is another idyllic location to enjoy a fascinating array of outdoor sculpture. The landscape of ancient cottonwoods, apple trees and meadow on this lush estate is an ideal canvas for works by numerous world-class artists. Monumental pieces take center stage in the open meadow, while side gardens offer intimate areas to showcase smaller works. Discovering the sculptures as you amble the paths is part of the fun. And each appears to meld into the natural environment, as if it were made specifically for the particular space. 

All this eye-candy might stimulate your creative juices. And who knows, you could just go home and start a sculpture garden of your own!

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