Santa Fe, NM — The New Mexico Museum of Art is proud to announce Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment, a sweeping retrospective of one of New Mexico’s most iconic artists. Beginning in the Beauregard Gallery on July 18, 2025, and expanding to all four galleries in the Museum’s original Plaza building on August 15, September 26. This exhibition offers an unprecedented exploration of Baumann’s life, legacy, and enduring impact on the cultural landscape of the Southwest.

Gustave Baumann (1881–1971) first arrived in New Mexico in 1918 and quickly became a beloved figure in the Santa Fe art community. While best known for his luminous and detailed woodblock prints, Baumann was a creative polymath whose artistic pursuits also included painting, sculpture, drawing, marionette-making, and furniture design. His work captures the vibrancy, diversity, and natural beauty of the Southwest with both technical mastery and unmistakable charm.

Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment surveys all periods of Baumann’s prolific career and delves deeply into the environments—physical, cultural, and artistic—that shaped his practice. Drawn primarily from the Museum’s extensive collection, the exhibition is organized thematically to highlight key influences and recurring motifs in Baumann’s work. These include his deep engagement with the region’s ecology and landscapes, his fascination with Puebloan and Hispano cultures, his whimsical approach to storytelling through marionettes and genre scenes, and his connection to international modernist movements in design and aesthetics.

“This exhibition is about more than one artist,” said Interim Director, Laura Mueller, PhD. “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.”

Among the highlights of the show are rarely exhibited preliminary sketches, color studies, and process materials that provide insight into Baumann’s meticulous printmaking techniques. Visitors will follow the evolution of a print from initial sketch to final impression, gaining an intimate look at the craftsmanship behind each piece.

The exhibition will be presented across four galleries in the Museum’s Plaza Building:

•    Beauregard Gallery: July 18, 2025 – December 14, 2025•    New Wing: August 15, 2025 – February 22, 2026•    Goodwin Gallery: September 26, 2025 – January 11, 2026•    Clarke Gallery: September 26, 2025 – February 1, 2026

A robust schedule of public programs, family workshops, gallery talks, and a comprehensive catalog will accompany the exhibition, offering multiple entry points into Baumann’s world for visitors of all ages.Join us in celebrating the enduring legacy of Gustave Baumann an artist, innovator, and storyteller who helped shape the visual identity of New Mexico in the twentieth century and beyond.

About The New Mexico Museum of Art The New Mexico Museum of Art is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Programs and exhibits are supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and its donors. The mission of the Museum of Art is to create authentic experiences that foster a deeper understanding and enjoyment of art throughout our state. With a collection of more than 20,000 pieces of work, the museum brings the art of the world to New Mexico and the art of New Mexico to the world.