Creations in art! This place is a Central art gallery in…read morethe downtown area of Albuquerque. They have a great collection of diverse art, all showcasing the local talent, scenery and culture of the Land of Enchantment. They focus on New Mexico scenes and artists heavily here. It's a long list of talented local artists that they're showing off in different media. They have a great collection of paintings, pottery, clocks, knickknacks, and tchotchkes. My favorite stuff was the paintings of New Mexico in the wintertime, or of the Sandia Mountains. The staff was very welcoming, and answered questions about the works. They have a friendly white dog that's eager to greet any customers and make sure you see the art! The prices were reasonable for the quality of work that you're getting. Most of the stuff wasn't impulse buys, but something that you'd proudly display on your mantle of your southwestern home. Parking can be difficult, since it's on the Albuquerque main drag, Central Ave. There's metered parking out front.

This gallery has some amazing local art. The owner was very helpful in helping me make a selection…read morefor my husbands birthday. Highly recommend!

"Relax, baby. Let Howie Wowie set the mood, I'm throwin' on some Barry White, kick 'ya shoes off,…read moreI'm turnin' down the lights... Aw yeah, that's right baby. Can't get enougha yo love, baby. Settle yo pretty self in front of that fire place, go on, make yo'self comfortable on that tiger skin rug. Here's a little more champagne, those bubbles sparkle like yo eyes, baby. You know, it's been a while since you and I ah... spent time together. And now that I'm with ya, I have to tell ya, you're lookin' finer than ever. That's right, baby." I think I just intentionally avoided writing a review of this art gallery because I had an impossible time imagining how I would so. The main artist at this gallery, Ricardo Chavez-Mendez, is unquestionably talented, to such a degree that it's hard to believe he's ever produced anything sub-par. His imagery combines ancient South American and traditional New Mexican folklore and spirituality with a style uniquely his own, curvismo, which is something like O'Keefe on peyote. Vibrant, absorbing and busy, these canvasses really shine, occasionally in directions I don't feel like going, like the whole dolphins-in-a-pastel-ocean place. In my limited experience the artist is always in-house, creating, and he's an incredibly welcoming and friendly presence. If you have a minute, he'll likely walk you through his creative process and give you some insight into how these canvasses are born. So go on, walk in, take your time, there's plenty to look at here. Oh, and then there are all of those paintings of the naked ladies... "Aw, yeah..."

This is a delightful art gallery located in one of the picturesque, charming patios of old town…read more It's filled with high quality art by local makers and artisans. The interior is spacious with beautiful historic ceilings in the original old town architecture. The staff are friendly, helpful and inviting and not pretentious like some art galleries can feel. This is a must visit gallery in Albuquerque!

Very cool art gallery. We went twice, the first time just to check out the paintings and the second…read moretime we went because they were having a special artist feature event with an artist whose work was being featured in the gallery. Absolutely loved his work and thought it was so interesting to hear from him in person about what inspired him, his creative process and highlights of his life as a painter. Not sure if the woman working there was the owner but she was so sweet and seemed really passionate about art and was great to talk to.

This is a fabulous gallery in Albuquerque. The selection of art is vast! There are so many…read moredifferent styles and media represented by local New Mexican artists. There is also an enormous selection of jewelry and ceramic pieces for home decor and functional use. I truly recommend this gallery!

Sure, New Mexico touts an artisan community that rivals any community in the world. That's a pretty…read moreobvious statement. We have Santa Fe, the "City Different", home to painters, sculptors and other artists the world over who thrive (even in a recession), and the town houses its share of artists who practice artisan athletics, music, meditation, what have you. We have Taos and the surrounding communes, wherein you'll find celebrated maestros, architects and off-the-grid nomads; if you haven't driven west toward the gorge, put it on your travel to-do list, you won't be disappointed. Key word: earth ships. Silver City: artisan hideout. Same goes for Tularosa, Cloudcroft, Los Ojos, Red River, Jemez, Zuni, San Antonio... I could go on and on. These are the sneaky peeks, the places where funky personas with wild ideas relocate, where they can live in relative calm, bask under endlessly open skies, where they often create grand visionary works that encompass the entirety of their lifetime journeys. O'Keefe did the same at Ghost Ranch. Personally, I love bumping into a gallery or a store along my travels, where these fascinating people will find a few minutes for some straight talk about their work. I've found them in corners of the state I never imagined they could exist, but they do, they persist, and I'm always thrilled to find them. I often wonder how they survive. Surely, selling the occasional canvass to the wandering traveler won't pay the rent. Enter Mariposa, a gallery in the heart of Nob Hill which showcases 90%+ local artists. Paintings, mixed-media and a smattering of jewelry provide welcome access to some of the most vital artists in the New Mexico realm. This place focuses on artists who remain just below the radar, who could use a little financial backing. The business has grown with time, changing locations twice, and over the years they've developed a long list of artists who've benefited from their publicity and advocacy and now give back, promoting the next generation. Fantastic. You don't have to visit with the intent of a purchase. Come and devour with your eyes. You won't forget it.

A treasure trove of beautiful folk art. This is where you need to stop for gifts or something to…read moreadorn your place, a memento of your time in Albuquerque. When I saw the collection of black cat art in the window, I knew I had to stop in this shop and what a feast for the eyes. So many beautiful paintings and prints in a variety of sizes. Shadow boxes, jewelry and Dia de los Muertos, Virgin of Guadalupe and more! I couldn't resist getting a smaller print of a painting with a black cat and crows, my favorite animals, which fit perfectly in my suitcase. And the owner, an artist himself, is the nicest guy. I couldn't possibly love Santisima more. I'll be back.

If you like Dia de Los muertos, Mexican cultural art, this is your place!!! So much amazing colors…read moreand textures!!! My daughter said "mom this is your store!!" And she was not lying!! The vibe was so loving and chill! The art was amazing!! I cannot wait until I am better prepared to buy an amazing piece my eyes could not avoid!!!

They are advertised as open. However I drove 20 minutes and paid parking for it to be closed. Very…read moredisappointed for the false advertisement

They're finally open again, yay!…read more I'm a firm believer that art should be accessible and it's awesome that places like 516 exist. Today I went with a friend to first Friday and this is the first time 516 has been open during the event for quite awhile. They had a great exhibit focused on Haitian and francophone Caribbean art. Again, it's free art open to the community so I'm just thankful that it exists. Even if a specific exhibit isn't your exact preference, it's always worth going back.

This art gallery is fabulous! It carries exceptional plein air local artists and the prices are…read morereasonable for museum quality paintings. If you love NM plein air, this wonderful gallery is a must. The owner has a great eye and is really nice, too! All around, an enjoyable experience.

From the owner: A large selection of beautiful landscape paintings of the Southwest…read more All original oils & pastels paintings by artists from New Mexico. Plein air paintings (paintings that are painted outdoors on location). Top quality art at a reasonable price. Over 200 paintings to select from, one-of-a-kind works of art to beautify your home or office.

My wife and I recently moved into the neighborhood and have visited the Tortuga Gallery several…read moretimes... it has a nice, informal, community feeling. We attended the Spring Equinox storytelling event on March 20 and found it to be very engaging. The storytellers, including Ramona King and Brenda Hollingworth, used the March "Water is Life" theme to share stories from around the world dramatically with song and music. The Glass Man shared a personal account of ways to conserve water and the necessity to be conscious of how important water is in our daily lives.

I only came here for a local artist gathering. There were, perhaps, 15 of them. People offering…read morenecklaces, gift cards, a few paintings, my four year-old loved the gem stone booth. I loved touring the aisles with her. We didn't buy anything, other than a cup of coffee. But the place left a big impression on me. The heat was out, a problem they intended to fix, someone told me. Didn't matter. I've lived in this city for the better part of 20 years, and this little adobe gem was a delight to discover. It's one of just a few structures in these parts that lives its history; you can feel the years inside and out. You can imagine a mercantile here, maybe a place where kids longed for a bite of candy or where, more than a century back, horses were hitched outside and people began the work of making this a neighborhood. The Tortuga Gallery has that history. It's just an old place with a comparatively tall ceiling for its era, and it bleeds New Mexico of old. From what I understand it's an event space, dedicated to the community. Plan your next yoga class here, or show off your best canvasses. It's a gorgeous, intimate, wonderful little spot in a neighborhood that will someday be the answer to downtown.

Sorry to leave a review based only on a 15 sec interaction, but that's is far as it got. Stopped in…read morethis shop area that houses a coffee shop and a art gallery, it was early so only art gallery open so I went to just ask where a public restroom was in Old Town, at 25ft away the shop keeper was waving me away saying Mask Mask..... It's August 2022, I was 25ft, this is a public business, I really think she is in the wrong line of work.

If I'm shopping for a gift from a local artist, Amapola is certainly on my list in Old Town…read more Why? Well, we locals certainly know that a great deal of the merchandise near the plaza is anything but local, and quite often, you're looking at goods made on another continent. Amapola is precisely the opposite: a local co-op supporting 30+ artists, everything you see on these walls and on display are the real deal. And the beauty of the gallery is the outstanding scope of material, medium and methodology. Alongside the anticipated paintings and jewelry, you'll find some work around here that both impresses and, well, sometimes confounds; who would think of that? Would that improve the look of my garden, or... ? But this is rare. For the most part, I found myself deeply enjoying this gallery, it's right above a froyo shop, so grab a cold treat and peruse.