Art on display: Gallery One at City Hall to showcase public art works from New Mexican artists

Public art is for the masses to see.

While the city of Albuquerque has a public art collection that consists of thousands of pieces and is one of the oldest public art programs in the country, it’s difficult to see the entire collection.

Enter Gallery One at City Hall.

The expanded space has been five years in the making and the city will host a public reception from 5-8 p.m. Friday at City Hall.

“Our goals are to showcase primarily local artists who are looking to be part of a unique space,” said Sherri Brueggemann, Public Art Division manager. “The Public Art team envisions exhibits as well as workshops that engage the public, employees and, most importantly, artists.”

The new “experiential,” noncommercial City Hall gallery space creates new audiences, expands more exhibition opportunities for artists, and gives city employees and the public the opportunity to learn about the intersection of government, art and community.

Brueggemann said ultimately 220 pieces of public art will be on display inside City Hall — many of the pieces have never been exhibited.

During the pandemic, the Albuquerque Arts Board stepped up to support a variety of artist groups that were experiencing overnight cancellations and closures.

In particular, when the Spanish Market and Indian Market in Santa Fe, which include many artists of New Mexico, were canceled.

Numerous arts festivals and fairs also were canceled.

By summer 2020, the Public Art Program had released four separate calls for existing works of art to try to help visual two-dimensional and three-dimensional artists. Within months, the arts board had selected 84 works of art and helped get $300,000 into the arts community.

“Those 84 pieces were purchased during summer of 2020,” Brueggemann said. “During that time, we did a call to artists for art to help keep them afloat.”

About 14 years ago, when the city and Bernalillo County shared the building, there was a reception held similar to this, Brueggemann said.

“We had about 400 people come to participate,” she said. “The city has been moving all of its departments to City Hall now that Bernalillo County has their own building. Renovations have been in the works and we’re ready to invite the public to see the public art on all floors.”

The inaugural exhibition, “A Day in the Life II” focuses on the work that city employees do to make a difference in Albuquerque.

Seven Albuquerque photographers — Max Woltman, Sean Wright, Angel Gil Lopez, Jessica Lozoya, Adrian Martin, Jessica Roybal and Pico del Hierro-Villa — were paired with seven city departments.

Each photographer sought to reveal the human side of government and answer the question: What does it take to make change happen for people who count on the city to work and what role do we all play in improving our quality of life?

“A Day in the Life II” will be on view through March 8. It is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday during winter hours.

“Our hope is to expand opportunities for the public to see the collection during certain events,” Brueggemann said.

The closest parking to City Hall is the underground parking lot at Civic Plaza.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place earlier on Friday.

“Public art elevates the space it occupies, enriching everyone who engages with it,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “Opening a public art gallery right here in City Hall reminds us that there’s always an opportunity to add more beauty and creativity to the world.”