Gustave Baumann: The Artist's Environment

Gustave Baumann first came to New Mexico in 1918 and has since become one of the most beloved artists and cultural figures in Santa Fe. Best known for his enchanting woodblock prints, Baumann was a prodigious artist and creative who left behind an enormous legacy that also included painting, sculpture, drawing, marionettes, and furniture.

Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment will provide a comprehensive study of Baumann’s artistic output and offer a close look at how he engaged the physical, cultural, and artistic environment in which he worked. Surveying all periods of his artistic career, and organized thematically, this exhibition will critically examine key concepts at play in Baumann’s artwork through a variety of lenses.

Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment explores Baumann’s contributions as an artist but also as a key figure in the construction of cultural and artistic identity for northern New Mexico. From his initial visit to Taos in 1918 until the twilight of his lengthy career, Baumann crafted a vision of the rich cultural diversity, awe-inspiring landscapes, and distinctive architecture of his adopted home. Though he was hardly alone in shaping popular perceptions of the mystique of New Mexico, Baumann enjoyed an esteem and regard among his fellow artists and the public alike, creating an enduring legacy that persists today.