The Gallery ABQ offers a glimpse into the upcoming Sandia Heights Artists Studio Tour

20250801-venue-v05gallery — Claudia Mitchell shows off some of her paintings.

Elizabeth Secor Elizabeth Secor Elizabeth Secor Journal Staff Writer

Published August 1, 2025 - 12:30 p.m. Modified August 1, 2025 - 2:54 p.m.

Sandia Heights Artists Preview

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Aug. 30

WHERE: The Gallery ABQ, 8210 Menaul Blvd. NE

HOW MUCH: Free, at thegalleryabq.com

You can get a sneak peek into the Sandia Heights Artists Studio Tour at The Gallery ABQ now through the end of August.

“People can come in and see representative pieces from all of the artists,” Claudia Mitchell, vice president of the Sandia Heights Artists, said. “So it's like a sneak preview.”

The gallery will showcase pieces from Sandia Heights artists who will participate in the studio tour in September. The show will be on display in the gallery's salon through Aug. 30.

“It's important to us to have artists be able to show their work. And it's also very important to us that we be able to express that,” Mara Franklin, president of the Sandia Heights Artists, said. “Most people aren't aware there are artists in Sandia Heights, and this is our way of showing that we're here.”

This is the second year that Gallery ABQ and the Sandia Heights Artists have partnered together for the preview.

“It's a really good opportunity for groups like this, because they only get to show in their homes for two days,” Patricia Cream, director of The Gallery ABQ, said. “Doing a preview, they get 30 days to have other artists come in and see their work.”

Linda Weiss, the marketing director for The Gallery ABQ, said that the partnership is mutually beneficial.

“When we have all the Sandia artists back there, they bring all their friends and family who maybe have never been to the gallery,” Weiss said.

The Sandia Heights Artist Preview features a diverse range of art, including paintings, ceramics and more. While every piece of art is together in the gallery, when it comes to the tour, they try to have different artists' styles at each stop.

“When we plan where we put artists, we try not to have people compete,” Franklin said. “Like, Claudia is an oil painter. We couldn't put another oil painter. We try to have a variety.”

The partnership has helped broaden the artist's audience, according to Mitchell.

“The gallery has done a very good job, and they reach a different audience of people than what we do,” Mitchell said. “So it's a real synergy.”