UNM offers free events showcasing celebrated LA painter

The University of New Mexico's Department of Art and the Albuquerque Museum welcome painter Laurie Nye as the 2026 Frederick Hammersley Visiting Artist. This prestigious program, established in 2017, brings acclaimed contemporary artists to UNM to engage with students, faculty and the broader Albuquerque arts community. Two free public events this spring will showcase Nye and her work. 

Based in California and Tennessee, Nye is known for her vibrant paintings that explore our connection to nature. Drawing from personal memories of special places, both current and nostalgic, Nye creates works that embody expression, freedom, and utopian possibility. Her sophisticated use of color, line, and shape—influenced by post-impressionism and textile design—results in paintings that celebrate our intimate bond with the natural world.

"I love the idea of fictional places, fabled places, memories and experiences of real places all mixed together in a non-linear way," said Nye, who plays with the notion of what landscape painting could be or should be.

Don't miss these free special events:

Artist Talk: 5 p.m. February 19, Albuquerque Museum. Join Nye for an intimate evening discussing her artistic process and influences.

Open Studio: 3-6 p.m. April 2, UNM Art Annex Graduate Studios. This event offers the public a chance to see Nye's creative process firsthand and view works in progress.

With degrees from the Memphis College of Art and the California Institute of the Arts, Nye has exhibited at prestigious galleries including Philip Martin Gallery (Los Angeles), Van Doren Waxter (New York), and internationally in Berlin and London. Her work has been featured in ArtForum and the LA Times, cementing her position as a contemporary artist to watch.

For more information, visit https://art.unm.edu/people/frederick-hammersley-visiting-artist, or contact the UNM Department of Art, 505-277-5861.