Sparking inspiration: 'Rendered Presence' explores artworks by artists living, working throughout NM

It’s a full circle moment for Albuquerque-based santero Vicente Telles.

The South Valley native’s work has been shown at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Visual Art Museum in 2011 as part of an emerging artists exhibit.

He also has a few pieces in the center’s permanent collection.

Yet, for the first time, Telles was called on to curate his first NHCC exhibit — “Rendered Presence: Artistas de Nuevo México.”

Sparking inspiration: 'Rendered Presence' explores artworks by artists living, working throughout the state

“I remember walking into the space in 2011 and seeing my work amongst the collection here,” Telles said. “I remember the pride I saw in my family when they came here. Taking the lead on the exhibit, it was my best ability to show people where we come from. I thought about how we can uplift each other. And how do we help each other’s career, and how do we just be good people?”

The exhibition explores artworks by 13 artists living and working throughout New Mexico — including painters, photographers, artists working with textiles and other soft sculpture forms. Many of the artworks are figurative and created on a scale that challenges limited understandings of New Mexican art, which is often reduced to stereotypes of landscape and “cowboy” art or dismissed as small-scale.

In their own medium and format, each artist explores identity and the self, art history, and the expanse of Hispanic, Chicano and Latino contemporary art.

There are 18 pieces total in the exhibit which features Telles, Andres Martinez, Rubén Cantú, Eric Romero, Travis Ruiz, Jim Vogel, Isabela Ortega, Daisy Quezada Ureña, Vanessa Alvarado, Pola Lopez, Gabriela Campos, Marie Sena and Brittany Sedillo.

Growing up in the South Valley, Telles began painting traditional retablos using natural pigments created from clays and minerals on homemade gesso, which is then sealed with an archival varnish.

Always looking for ways to push boundaries, his style has evolved to include various interpretations of traditional Catholic and cultural iconography, which is evident in his social commentary retablos and his ongoing border culture series.

“I just wanted to bring together all the artists that I had been working with, and a few that I haven’t, so that they can show the cross-section of what’s happening in New Mexico art outside of the typical Southwestern art scene,” Telles said.

In choosing the New Mexico artists, Telles often asked himself, “Why can’t we be those inspirations for the children that come through the museum?”

“When I was growing up, the Albuquerque Museum was the only kind of art that I was ever privileged to because it was the only museum that showed art at the time,” Telles said. “So for me now it’s like I just have to cross over the bridge to see my friends, family and experience here at the NHCC,” he said. “These are artists that can hold their own on national and international stages.”

Alvarado has a self-portrait in the exhibit and is proud to have her work on display.

Also from the South Valley, Alvarado is co-founder of ALMA, which is a nonprofit which does murals around the state.

She said though most of her art has been within the community, in 2021, she finally allowed herself to make the time to paint.

“I was known as an artist and a muralist,” Alvarado said. “My self-portraits are usually nude. (With the process) I’m taking this control back by showing my body nude and embodying the vulnerability. I have two children. I wanted to create a painting that portrayed this female experience.”

“Rendered Presence” will run through July 27, 2025, inside the NHCC Community Gallery, which is dedicated to providing opportunities for emerging New Mexico curators and artists to present unique perspectives on visual culture.

“Supporting our community is a core part of the center’s mission, and we’re incredibly excited to showcase an exhibition with deep New Mexico roots,” said Zack Quintero, NHCC executive director. “ ‘Rendered Presence’ reminds us that powerful work from our New Mexico gente comes in all forms, each artwork comes with its own New Mexico story and connection.”