A ladies' first: Yucca Gallery celebrates 60 years

In 1964, no Albuquerque gallery accepted work created by women.

In response, 27 women artists founded Yucca Gallery.

Located in Old Town’s Plaza Market near the historic wishing well, its 1899 adobe walls have hosted the work of hundreds of artists. Some became well-known, including Helen McPherson, Ann Olsen, Maggie Price and Dahl Delu, who won two Emmy Awards for set design on the television show, “Cheers.”

The gallery will host an anniversary celebration on Friday, Sept. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at 206½ San Felipe St. NW.

Yucca treasurer and jewelry artist Myra Gadson joined nine years ago.

“I was looking for an outlet for my work,” she said. “I had visited Yucca on a First Friday (Art Crawl). One of my neighbors was a featured artist.

“They invited me to jury my work and come into the gallery.”

Today, the gallery exhibits artwork by over 30 artists.

“There’s a real sense of community because it is a co-op,” Gadson said. “We all have a stake there. We make our decisions based on a majority vote.”

Members pay $60 a month toward rent, plus a 15% commission, she added.

The gallery survived the pandemic through its policy of keeping a three-month balance. A city grant produced $1,000.

“We lost a lot of artists,” Gadson acknowledged. “A lot of the artists said, ‘If I can’t sell my work, I don’t want to pay the rent.’”

Still, they persevered.

Multiple former and current Yucca artists have been designated as Local Treasures by the Albuquerque Art Business Association. They include Gadson, Delu, Rod Groves, Lyla Garcia, Renee Gentz, Nina Adkins and Fran Krukar.

The gallery’s founders came with professional bonds and experience. All were members of the National League of American Pen Women, an organization formed for the development of professional women, first in journalism and writing, then later in additional creative fields.

After 10 years as a women-only gallery, times changed and Yucca began admitting men.

On the gallery’s opening day 60 years ago, shoppers paid a minimum price of $5 for a painting. Artists were required to bring three dozen cookies. Today, its prices range from $20 to $1,000.