Albuquerque Arts

Galleries, Public Art, Performing Arts and World-Class Museums Make up Albuquerque’s Vibrant Arts Scene

Consistently ranked as a top arts destination, Albuquerque celebrates artistry of all forms, from visual arts to theatrical performances and from traditional to contemporary. An accessible hub for Southwestern and Native American art, Albuquerque is home to a variety of cultural centers, art museums, art galleries and theaters that make the city an ideal destination to experience arts in New Mexico.

Albuquerque is a neighbor to some of the world's top-rated art markets, in Santa Fe and Taos. In addition to benefiting from the rich arts in the region, Albuquerque has its own thriving local art scene.

Whether you are visiting for a romantic getaway or to hike the many trails, making some time to take in the Albuquerque arts scene is a must during any New Mexico vacation.

Albuquerque’s Public Art

Albuquerque museums are not the only places to find works of art. The arts in Albuquerque are locally supported and world-renowned, including our 1% for Art Program, one of the country's oldest public art programs.

Works of art can be found across the city, inside buildings and out. In fact, just walking around Albuquerque provides a visual spectacle.

Murals, statues and paintings adorn Albuquerque from the airport to Old Town, the University district and all along Route 66. Monthly arts crawls provide an excellent opportunity to see some of the local artworks, and our Mural Mosey self-guided walking tour offers a great day of exploring some of the city's downtown street art.

Albuquerque’s Downtown, Old Town and Nob Hill neighborhoods all offer vibrant public art and street art viewing. Learn more about Albuquerque’s incredible street art and murals at MurosABQ.com, and find an interactive map of ABQ’s public art scene here.

Albuquerque’s Traditional & Contemporary Arts

Albuquerque is known for its abundance of Native American, Hispanic and Southwestern artwork. In addition to silver and turquoise jewelry, traditional pottery, Spanish colonial embroidery, tinwork and many other media and styles, you will find exciting, provocative contemporary works in a variety of forms and expressions.

With hundreds of galleries, studios, museums and cultural centers, Albuquerque's visual arts scene is bustling.

Albuquerque’s multitude of museums and cultural centers offer a glimpse into the history of Albuquerque’s unique cultures and the thriving art scene today. With special exhibitions throughout the year and impressive permanent art exhibits and galleries, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the South Broadway Cultural Center, the African American Performing Arts Center and Exhibit Hall, the Albuquerque Museum, and many other museums throughout the city offer an endless array of traditional and contemporary works of art.

Albuquerque’s Performing Arts

Albuquerque’s thriving performing arts community is enriched by the National Hispanic Cultural Center, National Institute of Flamenco and New Mexico Philharmonic, as well as the cutting-edge Outpost Performance Space and Keshet Dance and Center for the Arts. Regularly scheduled performances are featured in the University of New Mexico's grand Popejoy Hall, the Albuquerque Little Theatre and the historic KiMo Theatre in Downtown Albuquerque. Albuquerque also has many more intimate theater spaces.

Inside Kimo Theater

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