Arts aloft: 'Special Shapes' art show pays homage to 12 popular Balloon Fiesta favorites

Bryce Nañez grew up in southern New Mexico and had never attended the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

That is, until 2016, when he and his wife moved back to New Mexico.

“It’s a really cool, iconic event,” he says. “It was really fun seeing all the special shapes and seeing the colors as they filled up the sky.”

Art aloft: 'Special Shapes' art show pays homage to 12 popular Balloon Fiesta favorites

Nañez lives in Albuquerque, where he will wake up in the morning to see the hot air balloons flying in the sky year-round.

The artist decided to create a show called “Special Shapes,” which pays homage to 12 of the special shapes that have flown at Balloon Fiesta.

“I always wanted to paint hot air balloons,” he says. “This year was the right time. I started to create the special shapes and found that with each one, there was a piece of happiness within.”

Nañez painted 12 separate paintings and then one bigger canvas featuring a handful of balloons.

The exhibit will run through Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Lapis Room in Old Town — a little longer than the duration of Balloon Fiesta.

Though Nañez is now an Albuquerque-based pop realism painter, he grew up in Las Cruces.

He officially entered the professional painting scene in 2014, showcasing his works in Austin, Texas, and Albuquerque.

One of his most notable pieces is a 36x48-inch acrylic on canvas portrait titled “Pacman,” which was commissioned by the world champion Filipino boxer, Manny Pacquiao, in 2016.

Nañez paints nearly every day.

Prior to hitting the studio, he will wake up and watch the balloons fly over Albuquerque almost every day.

“As my son says, he wants to see the ‘cotton candy’ skies as they turn orange and red,” he says.

Nañez has also welcomed his son into the studio throughout this process.

“He’s part of the process with me,” he says with a laugh. “He contributed a little bit to one of the paintings. I thought it was really cool that he wanted to do that. Painting is something that we can enjoy together.”

Nañez has been working on the series since July and is excited for the community to see them on display in Old Town.

“People come from all over the world to the Balloon Fiesta,” he says. “I hope the original works will capture people’s attention and give the opportunities to reflect on their own love for hot air balloons.”

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Nañez is committed to making a positive impact in the community and donates services and artwork, annually, in support of local organizations and the people they serve.

“Each painting explores the playful spirit and surreal beauty of the festival, transforming the sky into a canvas of imagination and color,” he says. “Through bold colors and dynamic compositions, these pieces invite viewers to remember the magic and wonder of this iconic event. With this series, collectors can bring this magic home, making the festival’s joy a part of their everyday lives.”