Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico and one of the oldest and most architecturally-interesting cities in America, is home to a vibrant art community. It’s the third largest art market in the United States with more than 200 individual galleries. Galleries are clustered in three main areas: Canyon Road, downtown, and the Railyard District.
Art makes a great souvenir to help you remember your visit to Santa Fe. A painting or sculpture is certainly better than a shot glass or a tee shirt. While art can be expensive, you can save money by staying at one of the Hipmunk hotels near the Santa Fe airport. These hotels are usually less expensive than downtown Santa Fe hotels on Hipmunk. Take a look at the top Santa Fe art galleries below.
Manitou Galleries
With two Santa Fe locations, one in downtown near the Palace of the Governors and one on Canyon Road, Manitou Galleries specializes in artists from the southwestern region of the United States. They represent more than 50 individual artists in media from painting to sculpture to glass to fine jewelry. The gallery’s offerings include works by both established, well-known artists and up-and-coming stars of the art world.
Manitou Galleries, 123 W Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501; (505) 986-0440 and 225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501; (877) 986-9833
David Richard Gallery
Located on S. Guadaloupe St., just south of downtown in the so-called Railyard District, the David Richard Gallery specializes in post-war abstract art in a variety of media by both established and emerging artists. The gallery also handles contemporary art from this period in the secondary market.
David Richard Gallery, 544 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501; (505) 983-9555
Niman Fine Arts
Located in downtown Santa Fe, near the Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe (available through Hipmunk), Niman Fine Arts is a family-run business, the brainchild of renowned Native-American artist Dan Nimangha. The gallery showcases Nimangha’s contemporary, southwestern-style paintings as well as jewelry art and sculpture created by his son Arlo and photographs by his son Michael.
Niman Fine Arts,125 Lincoln Ave #116, Santa Fe, NM 87501; (505) 988-5091
Zane Bennett Contemporary Art
Also located on S. Guadaloupe Street, this 10,000-square foot, two-story art gallery showcases art of a variety of media, including paintings, sculpture, fabric art, and even film and new media by local, regional, and national artists. They also sell quality prints from top contemporary artists like Roy Lichtenstein.
Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, 435 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501; (505) 982-8111
Selby Fleetwood Gallery
Located in a traditional, 18th-century abode building in Santa Fe’s Canyon Road District, the Selby Fleetwood Gallery focuses on paintings and sculpture, both indoor and outdoor, by American artists, about a quarter of whom are from New Mexico. The gallery has a lush garden to showcase its garden art.
Selby Fleetwood Gallery, 600 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501; (505) 992-8877
Where do you like to shop for art in Santa Fe? Share your favorite galleries with our readers by leaving a comment below.
Sandy Mitchell is a full-time freelance writer and former travel agent who writes for Hipmunk among other travel sites. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States and beyond and published two books on Ohio history.
