Albuquerque Arts

Name: Viva, La Calavera! Sugar Skull Door Hanger (12 PM seating)
Start: 2026-10-18T12:00:00-06:00
End: 2026-10-18T14:00:00-06:00
Location: 2500 12th St NW

Albuquerque embraces its role as a cultural hub, boasting an array of cultural centers, art museums, galleries, and theaters, making it an ideal gateway to experience the arts in New Mexico.

Art Galleries

Albuquerque’s visual arts scene teems with life, boasting hundreds of galleries, studios, museums, and cultural centers, each a bustling hub of artistic expression, spanning the spectrum from traditional to contemporary.

Beyond its own thriving local art scene, Albuquerque shares its borders with renowned art markets in Santa Fe and Taos, further enriching its artistic tapestry. The city has earned acclaim for its wealth of Native American, Hispanic, and Southwestern artwork, featuring captivating silver and turquoise jewelry, traditional pottery, Spanish colonial embroidery, tinwork, and an exciting array of contemporary creations that provoke thought and inspiration.

In addition to the established galleries around town, you can experience Albuquerque’s diverse and abundant creativity throughout the year by attending regular art exhibitions and art market events.

View Albuquerque art galleries on Google Maps.

Performing Arts

Experience the captivating arts and cultural scene in Albuquerque, where diversity, innovation, and magnificent productions take center stage. Whether you’re drawn to avant-garde experimental theater or classic favorites, Albuquerque has it all.

Delight in the performances of esteemed theater troupes like the renowned Tricklock Company and the historic Albuquerque Little Theater, where the talented Vivian Vance once graced the stage before becoming Ethel in “I Love Lucy.” For major touring productions, don’t miss Popejoy Hall at the University of New Mexico campus.

A true gem is the KiMo Theatre, a nearly century-old Pueblo Deco-style venue, whose iconic façade adds to the city’s charm. Its stage hosts an array of shows, from mesmerizing musical performances to gripping drama and sidesplitting comedy.

View Albuquerque performing arts centers on Google Maps.

Public Art

One of the city’s prized gems is the 1% for Art Program, among the country’s oldest public art initiatives, fostering a rich collection of artistic expressions throughout the community. This bold initiative guarantees that 1% of voter-approved general obligation bonds and certain revenue bonds will be set aside for the commission or purchase of art for public spaces.

As you stroll through Albuquerque, you’ll encounter captivating works of art gracing buildings and open spaces, creating a visually stunning environment. From murals and statues at the airport to artistry in Old Town, the University district, and along the iconic Route 66, art is woven into the city’s fabric.

Embrace the opportunity to explore local artworks during monthly Art Walks, a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the creative spirit of Albuquerque. For an overview of the city’s many murals and their history, Muros de Burque has put together an archive for your viewing pleasure. Finally, the City of Albuquerque Public Art Urban Enhancement Division hosts a podcast series, Take Another Look. Take Another Look is a conversation between artists, community members, and City staff and leaders to explore what public art is, the history of the Albuquerque Public Art Program, current public art projects, and the impact of public art in Albuquerque.

View Albuquerque public art locations on Google Maps.

The arts are

Authentically Albuquerque

Take part in the arts! Discover local artists and venues, find upcoming events, and be a part of Albuquerque’s living art legacy.

Public Art Across Albuquerque

Handcrafted wooden zebra figurine painted with black and white stripes and a textured mane. — Artwork Location: Main Terminal, 2200 Sunport Blvd SE

Green and blue mosaic tiles form a patterned wall with a river and leafy trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Abstract outdoor sculpture featuring large geometric shapes in pink, black, and yellow against a partly cloudy sky. — Artwork Location: Median at University & Coal Ave SE

Colorful mural depicting diverse figures and symbolic elements radiating light and energy in a circular pattern. — Representational acrylic painted mural depicting narratives about “mind, body and spirit” including hands, light, and other figures and symbols.

Hand-carved wooden figure of a bearded man wearing a hat with feathers, carrying logs over his shoulder, standing on a round base.

Colorful geometric mural with converging diamond shapes painted on two intersecting walls in an outdoor parking lot.

Large painted mural along the retaining walls of the Piedra Lisa Dam that conveys the cool peacefulness of a mountain stream bed in the morning.

A large aluminum yucca lit up at night by fluorescent colors.

Soft pastel abstract painting blending light blues, purples, and pinks with textured brush strokes and subtle geometric lines.

Abstract geometric composition of overlapping black rectangles with white diagonal stripes on a light background.

An artistic mural depicting a figure with beams of red, blue, and purple light streaming from their eyes while holding a historical book. — Mestizaje is a mural that explores the merging of native and Hispanic cultures, which began several hundred years ago and continues today. Repeating forms, colors and themes flow through the mural. They connect ancient ruins to a modern city, against a backdrop of mountains that mimic the rhythm of the figures moving in the foreground.

A gazebo with tribal patterned posts. — Artwork Location: Rio Grande Zoological Park, 903 10th Street SW

Bronze statue of a cowboy on horseback leading a plow with another figure walking behind in a desert landscape.

Wide bracelet featuring intricate blue mosaic tiles arranged in a geometric pattern with silver accents.

A fisherman holds a gar over his head triumphantly.

Abstract geometric figures with intricate patterns and earthy tones set against a starry night sky background.

Vast desert landscape at sunset with rocky formations and colorful clouds stretching across the sky.

Colorful mural depicting a still life with wine bottle, grapes, flowers in a decorative vase, and various foods on a blue tablecloth.

Black and white photo of a cemetery with rectangular tombstones scattered across dry grass and mountains in the background.

A detailed aerial painting of a suburban neighborhood with a baseball field, residential houses, and distant city buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

Oil on canvas depicting Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and his conquistadors coming from Arizona into New Mexico, (then called Tiguex) where they spent the winter. — Artwork Location: Barelas Senior Multi-Service Center, 714 Seventh St SW

A mosaic depiction of a house with a palm tree and flowers.

Colorful abstract figure holding a spear and a green orb, blending tribal and surreal elements against a pink and beige background.

Neon art-deco signs atop Loma Linda Community Center.

Curved silver cuff bracelet with intricate geometric inlay of turquoise, black, white, and red triangular shapes forming a symmetrical pattern.

Futuristic pedestrian tunnel with curved glass walls illuminated by blue lights at dusk. — A bicycle and pedestrian bridge that crosses I-25 which incorporates lighting design.

Abstract artwork featuring overlapping geometric shapes with vibrant, multicolored brushstrokes creating a dynamic, textured pattern.

Black and white ceramic vase with intricate geometric floral patterns covering its rounded body and narrow neck. — Seed Jar is contemporary version of the vessels created to store seeds from one season for use the next year. For thousands of years, humankind has saved the seeds of the best grains, fruits and vegetables, storing the seeds to make sure there is food for the community.

Modern art installation featuring a reflective cylindrical structure suspended by cables among tall blue poles under a clear sky.

A vintage wooden biplane model suspended from the ceiling, with visible struts, fabric wings, and an open cockpit structure.

Colorful mural depicting abstract humanoid figures with smoke-like black shapes rising against a vibrant blue and yellow geometric background.

Three tall, rust-colored abstract sculptures stand on a grassy area surrounded by autumn trees under a clear sky.

Traditional adobe house with small windows and doors set among golden autumn trees under a clear sky. — Representational watercolor painting of a traditional adobe/stucco home in a cottonwood forest.

Orange angular sculptures arranged in two groups on a grassy park lawn surrounded by trees. — Dawn Light is a series of abstract, orange sculptures located in the San Mateo Mini Park. The steel sculptures stand quietly, even mysteriously, and are reminiscent of Stonehenge an ancient rock sculptures believed to be arranged in alignment to solar patterns. The shapes in Dawn Light may remind you of rays of sunlight.

Current & Upcoming Art Events

Aug 26, 2026 All day

Alex Ponca Stock – Particle and the Wave: Oracles and Symbols for Living and Dying

Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to present Particle and the Wave: Oracles and Symbols for Living and Dying, a solo show by Alex Ponca Stock. Particle and the Wave features[...]

Richard Levy Gallery, 514 Central Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102 United States