Exhibition Archives

The New Vanguard: Explorations into the New Contemporary III

Jan 21 – Mar 13 2022

KEEP Contemporary sets the stage for 2022 with The New Vanguard: Explorations into the New Contemporary III, an international juried show that brings together some of the top artists from the new contemporary art movement. The gallery’s call emphasized hyper realism, low brow, abstract, outsider and pop art but remained open-ended, resulting in over 500 submissions from over 200 artists. The international juried show is in line with KEEP’s mission to stimulate the local art market in its exposure of unconventional and underrepresented talent.

Valentin Popov: conceptual Collaboration – Across centuries, Cultures, and Distances

Dec 17 – Jan 16 2022

Valentin Popov’s evolution as an artist is an amalgamation of his stringent fine art training in the Ukraine and his absorption of modern popular culture in the United States, where he has resided as a citizen for the past twenty years.

In his mature work, Popov has always been obsessed with the notion of the superhero both as savior but at times also sacrificial victim leading to sainthood. There is humor and irony in his work, but beneath that seeming superficiality is a seriousness of purpose. We live in an uncertain world that yearns for heroes to rescue us from the terrors that surround us on
a daily basis, whether it presents itself as crime, poverty, or a deadly virus.

In recent years Popov, in his infrequent travels back to Ukraine, enlisted associates to seek out and acquire at flea markets, discarded oklads – sheet metal coverings that once framed old religious icons. Since 2000, Popov has utilized these authentic oklads in framing his painted recreations of icons depicting his repertoire of modern comic book superheroes.

Zienna Brunsted Stewart: The Bedroom Pictures

Nov 19 – Dec 12, 2021

For The Bedroom Pictures at KEEP Contemporary, Stewart presents a series of seven petite nude oil paintings. According to the artist, these paintings are minute, private explorations in color and texture as she aims to update the aesthetic of the female nude while maintaining the subject’s classical feel.

She says of this body of work: “I have always been drawn to miniatures and small-scale paintings. A large painting makes a big initial impression, sure, but a small painting requires you to walk up close and commit your full attention. The size is delicate and can become a window into a more personal subject matter. A nude posed in bed is more sensitively viewed in the privacy of small scale. No more than three people can view her closely at one time. An eight-foot nude rarely feels as intimate.”

Simona Ruscheva: The Source:

Nov 19 – Dec 12, 2021

Simona Ruscheva is a contemporary figurative artist currently based in London. Her Bulgarian heritage and immigrant identity has a huge influence on her work, as she blends elements from Bulgarian folklore with mythological themes and universal symbols.

“I implement and transform ideas from different rituals and fables to create a contemporary interpretation of my culture, emphasizing the mystical and esoteric aspect of it,” she says. “With my works I want to strengthen and expand people’s awareness of the still existing cultural diversity in a current world setting, where globalization is the new trend. With ethnicity being melted down, I consider it really important to acknowledge and preserve our own heritage.”

For The Source at KEEP Contemporary, Ruscheva’s paintings incorporate traditional Bulgarian elements such as embroidery and ceramic designs while conveying universal ideas such as the cycle of life and eternity of the soul. “This show is titled The Source because I am from Bulgaria and that is my main source of inspiration and where I draw my ideas from,” says Ruscheva. “It is also the source of who I am.”

Mono Ceiza: Archaeology of Future

Oct 15 – Nov 14, 2021

“My sculptures are representations of an approach to another reality, impressions rescued from the unconscious. They deal mainly with the interrelation between the human, the animal, the plants and the machine. I seek to recreate and transcend the human body itself by dressing other bodies, animal bodies; bodies connected both to nature and to our distant animal origin. And thus create a set of fantastic mythological beings, hybrid bodies that perhaps are related to ancient or future pagan traditions. Archeology of Future is made up of three triptychs that consist of manifestations, signs and representations of a culture that did not yet exist, discovered by an archaeologist specializing in the urban cult of the machine.”

Maya Fuji: Humid Nostalgia:

Oct 15 – Nov 14, 2021

“Humid Nostalgia is a series of paintings inspired by my childhood summers spent at my grandma’s home in Kanazawa, Japan as a mixed race Japanese-American person. Kanazawa, a small city located in the North West countryside, is unique because while modernized, it holds many remnants of pre-westernized times. It’s far enough from Tokyo and other major cities that foreigners were rare, leaving me the only mixed race child in the classroom or playground. I was constantly reminded of my “otherness” when in Japan despite a deep connection to culture and traditions, leaving me feeling similarly foreign when home in the U.S.

Fran de Anda: Sacred Creatures:

Sep 17 – Oct 10, 2021

Fran De Anda is a Mexico City artist whose work touches on themes related to the human condition. Inspired by ancient myths and archetypes, he develops concepts for his paintings involving transformation, death, alchemy, the sacred and the profane. His work has a strong connection to ancient art and references elements from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. His traditional painting techniques involve grinding his own pigments and using tempera, oil, silver and gold leaf to develop his interpretation of the mysterious and sacred relationship between man and nature through a mystical-symbolic vision. De Anda will present nine pieces for the exhibition made exclusively for KEEP Contemporary, painted in oil with gold and copper leaf details.

Milka Lolo: Dawnfall Gods

Sep 17 – Oct 10, 2021

Milka Lolo was born in Mexico City. The characters of Mexican folktales that she heard as a child have become the main subjects of her paintings, creating a distinct style and contemporary aesthetic that has allowed her to exhibit her work throughout Mexico and the United States. “My work consists of the re-interpretation of characters, myths, and narrations of the Mexican folk imaginary. These narratives are presented as a living manifestation of an ancestral culture, which has been transformed as it has integrated into a globalized society.”

Juan Manuel Sanabrial: Play the Game

Aug 20 – Sep 12, 2021

Sanabria uses classic Flemish techniques, with base and successive glazes, to paint his realistic characters and objects. He then abstracts these images with modern methods, adding geometric patterns with stencils or creating blurred effects using an aerograph. His work is easily recognized by his unique “square style” imagery, developed from the influence of classic cubist artists and as symbolism for the “dis-connection” that inspires his most recent work.

Ricardo Estrada: Santa Mictecacihuatl

Jul 23 – Aug 15, 2021

Ricardo Estrada is a native Angelino whose work reflects the essence of his community. The Los Angeles based artist mixes philosophies and cross-generational gaps in portraying the complexity of the Mexican-American identity. Before acquiring his BA in Studio Arts from California State University, Estrada studied under Jim Uyekawa at East Los Angeles College where he also had the opportunity to work closely with Mexican muralist, Raul Anguiano. Estrada’s fascination with the syncretism that exists in Mexican-American culture is still evident in his work, and he continues to paint murals with various artists who share his belief in beautifying communities while offering an educational value to the area.

Kristen Egan: Spirit Guides

Jul 23 – Aug 15, 2021

Kristen Egan is a mixed media artist specializing in sculpture and illustration. Her work explores concepts like evolution, predator/prey relationships, and totemic imagery. Merging gourds, antler, bone, and horsehair with paper-clay, resin, and acrylics, she blends tribal aesthetics with a modern understanding of our place in the universe. Her work often references elements of folk art and mythology, with the juxtaposition of bright patterns and ornamentation against raw materials and natural surface textures. Egan received her BFA in Art & Design from the SUNY College of Ceramics at Alfred University and is represented by galleries around the globe.

Dennis Larkins: Collateral Damage

June 18 – July 18, 2021

This June, KEEP Contemporary presents “Collateral Damage”, a dynamic dual exhibition for low brow and pop surrealist pioneers Dennis Larkins and Dirk Kortz. This show draws upon post apocalyptic metaphors populating Larkins’ narrative-style pop paintings and Kortz’ three-dimensional assemblage. Both artists explore the collective unconscious with retro-pop imagery, blending traditional painting techniques with contemporary attitude to create archetypal microcosms constructed in layers of metaphor. The show runs from June 18-July 18.”

Dirk Kort: Collateral Damage

June 18 – July 18, 2021

This June, KEEP Contemporary presents “Collateral Damage”, a dynamic dual exhibition for low brow and pop surrealist pioneers Dennis Larkins and Dirk Kortz. This show draws upon post apocalyptic  metaphors populating  Larkins’ narrative-style pop paintings and Kortz’ three-dimensional assemblage. Both artists explore the collective unconscious with retro-pop imagery, blending traditional painting techniques with contemporary attitude to create archetypal microcosms constructed in layers of metaphor. The show runs from June 18-July 18.”

Tania Pomales: Incantations

May 21 – Jun 13, 2021

Tania Pomales incorporates bright color palettes into her art (a nod to her colorful and bold Puerto Rican heritage) in juxtaposition with darker motifs, such as skulls and human anatomical references, to explore themes of life and death and the cyclical aspect of the human experience. For her solo exhibition Incantations, Pomales’ paintings reflect the artist’s journey of self-discovery over the past year in isolation. Morning mediation rituals involved repeating positive affirmations in an effort to shift her mindset in a positive way, allowing her to access a deeper artistic potential. This idea that incantations – series’ of words or phrases repeated in a ceremonial manner – can bring about positive change or shifts your mental state, is the inspiration for her solo show.

MadPaule: Lost in Translation

May 21 – Jun 13, 2021

Mad Paule: Lost in Translation features a series of illustrations and photographs that are based on the artist’s personal celebration of intimacy, nostalgia and the beauty found in deterioration and slow growth. “This age which is bombarded with information and obsessed with details ignores the obvious value of personal space and relationships,” says the artist. “I try to reclaim that space by making that relationship with my subjects, be it people I meet or objects I come across. Even when I am travelling to unfamiliar places, I try to find that common land, a mutual connection through visual stories and vulnerable moments.”

Jodie Herrera: Pieces of Us

Apr 23 – May 16, 2021

Jodie Herrera was born and raised in New Mexico and has identified and worked as an artist her whole life. She received her BFA with a focus in painting from the University of New Mexico in 2013, and currently resides in Albuquerque where she is a full time photo-realism oil painter, muralist, illustrator, mixed-media artist and curator. Herrera was awarded Best Visual Artist in 2017, 2018 and 2019 by Albuquerque The Magazine, and has also been featured in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, American Art Collector Magazine and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. Her work has been exhibited by seven museums including the Denver History Museum in Colorado, as well as numerous distinguished galleries from New York to Los Angeles to Santa Fe.

Deret Roberts: Folie a Deux

Apr 23 – May 16, 2021

Deret Roberts was born and raised in Southern New Mexico where he found his passion for art and painting at a very young age. He received his Bachelors of Fine Arts with a focus in painting from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he ultimately decided to put down roots and help build the community as an artist and curator. In November 2013 he founded Art Obscura, an exhibition space that showcases local artists whose underground style had been largely ignored in the community. Roberts is inspired by the doers, changers and ground shakers in his local community; seeing others make change pushes him to work even harder at making Las Cruces a better place to live.

Carolina Seth: Cabinet of Curiosities

Mar 19 – Apr 18, 2021

KEEP Contemporary presents a solo exhibition for Carolina Seth, a Spanish-born painter and illustrator who works in a surreal narrative style. For her first solo show with KEEP Contemporary, Seth features an intimate body of work inspired by curious and strange objects that inspire wonder and awe. “Cabinet of Curiosities”

“The expression, create the things you wish existed, has always resonated with me,” says the artist. “For this show, I wanted to explore and dive more into the subconscious and portray the unusual while making it a fun visual adventure as well – presenting characters and worlds that you normally wouldn’t see in real life.”

Jennifer B. Thoreson: Testament

Mar 19 – Apr 18, 2021

Jennifer B. Thoreson is a photographer, teacher, lecturer, and mother of two boys who lives and works in Albuquerque, NM. She holds an MFA from the University of New Mexico. Her work is heavily metaphorical, and delves into the nuances of human relationships, human fragility, and the ephemeral, temporary nature of human life. Through her exploration of questions surrounding faith and religious practices, she critically conceptualizes different themes to produce images rich in allegory, engaging with her viewers as they question and explore the themes for themselves. The complexity of her work is rooted in her practice. She carefully orchestrates each image by manipulating symbolic materials, constructing site specific installations and sculptures, and meticulously staging every scene to imbue each element, from the smallest to the largest, with meaning and significance. The elements and spaces she fabricates and captures in her images play as important a role in her art as the finished photographs themselves.

Holly Wood: Raeltime/Dreamtime

Feb 19 – Mar 14, 2021

a solo exhibition for Santa Fe painter Holly Wood, whose subject matter is inspired by daily life, news stories, history, politics, and the artist’s own vivid dreams. Wood’s surreal, storybook style paintings for Realtime/Dreamtime blend these elements according to themes that relate to human nature and environmental concerns.

New Vanguard: Explorations into the New Vanguard

Jan 19 – Feb 14, 2021

KEEP Contemporary sets the stage for 2021 with The New Vanguard: Explorations into the New Contemporary II, an international juried show that brings together some of the top artists from the new contemporary art movement. The gallery’s call emphasized hyper realism, low brow, abstract, outsider and pop art but remained open-ended, resulting in over 500 submissions from over 200 artists. Twelve exhibitors and Twenty eightpieces were selected, which reflect a wide-range of mediums. The international juried show is in line with KEEP’s mission to stimulate the local art market in its exposure of unconventional and underrepresented talent.

Everything’s Illuminated, IV Year Anniversary Show

Dec 18 – Jan 17, 2021

Keep Contemporary celebrates their four year anniversary as a gallery with the group exhibition, “Everything is Illuminated lV,”. The gallery will feature over forty artists including Keep’s represented artists as well as exciting new talent. Exhibiting artists are from all over the world and work in a variety of media in this dynamic exhibition that shines light on a wide range of voices and visions. KEEP Contemporary reflects on the past four years as an exciting and evolving journey

Anthony Hurd: Beyond the Rainbow

Dec 18 – Jan 17, 2021

Anthony describes his work as a selfish endeavor of exploring his own personal demons and understanding the ever changing landscapes of life. It’s a reflection of the extreme ups and downs of life, the losses and gains and the mundane in between. An appreciation of moments and the exploration of memory. From an early age Anthony has had a series of stranger experiences, he prefers not to label it, but it’s shaped his perception of the world, and ultimately it puts a face to his vision in general. It’s a lead him through an array of lovely messes that unfold in ways he’d have never expected.

Zienna Brunsted Stewart: Mixed Feelings

Nov 20 – Dec 13, 2020

Conceptual artist and educator John Baldessari once said, “Great art is clear thinking about mixed feelings.” Santa Fe painter Zienna Brunsted Stewart explores this resonating statement in her upcoming exhibition, Mixed Feelings, with a body of work that contemplates the complex dynamics of female friendships. Often erotic or voyeuristic, Stewart’s compositions are inspired by connections that are deeply intimate while oddly ambivalent.

Christy Schawthe: Grief and Hope

Nov 20 – Dec 13, 2020

This November, KEEP Contemporary presents a solo exhibition for Northern New Mexico painter Christy Schwathe, whose art is intrigued and inspired by human emotion and our relationship to our natural environment. For her upcoming solo show, Schwathe presents a series of narrative, figurative oil paintings that are both timeless and contemporary expressions of grief interwoven with hope, with pieces that touch on current environmental and political issues.

Nico Salazar: New Flexico

Oct 16 – Nov 15, 2020

This October, KEEP Contemporary presents a solo exhibition for local artist Nico Salazar, whose illustrative painting style is inspired by Japanese pop culture, street art and more, while layered with narratives that reference life in New Mexico. Salazar’s sharp black and white designs are also wearable; his clothing line, Future Fantasy Delight, features shirts, pins, hats and more that have a punk, street culture vibe. Salazar’s show, New Flexico, opens with an artist reception on Friday, October 16

stephanie Eichelberger: Bashfull Beasts

Oct 16 – Nov 15, 2020

This fall, KEEP Contemporary presents a solo exhibition for New Mexico artist Stephanie Eichelberger, whose pop surrealist paintings feature quirky, whimsical creatures in vivid colors. Using acrylic, gouache and colored pencil, Eichelberger’s illustrative style is rooted in realism with subject matter that is purely imaginary. While her creatures appear as strange and unknown beings, they each have distinct personas with characteristics and emotions that engage the viewer in playful and personal ways. Bashful Beasts opens with an artist reception on Friday, October 16^th

Victor Whitmill: Nebulous

Sep 18 – Oct 11, 2020

KEEP Contemporary presents a solo exhibition for New Mexico artist Victor Whitmill, whose work encourages a temporary release on reality with inexplicable narratives and enchanting visuals. Evoking wonder and aimless exploration, Whitmill’s fantastical figures take on a celestial feel for Nebulous, which showcases new oil paintings and drawings by the former-tattoo artist.

Ciene Xavier: Inside Out

Aug 21 – Sep 13, 2020

solo exhibition featuring the surreal sculpture of Brazilian artist Ciane Xavier, who currently resides in the Philippines. The self-taught artist presents a series of ten figurative sculptures for the show made from either traditional sculpting methods or 3D printing processes. Her characters often appear in bizarre costumes and exist in serene, dream-like states, representing inner journeys and truthful reflections of self. Themes of power, fragility, vulnerability and eternity are explored through the work, which is meant to probe the viewer and spark dialogue surrounding pop culture, globalization, and the distractions of the Millennial Era. Inside Out is a month-long show opening with a reception on August 21st from 5-8pm.

El Moises: Mi Vida En Arte

July 24 – Aug 16, 2020

KEEP Contemporary features New Mexico artist El Moisés with a body of work the artist describes as “folk moderno arte chingón,” meaning “badass modern folk art.” Vibrant paintings reflect the artist’s Mexican American heritage as he juxtaposes symbols from Catholicism, lowrider culture, Día de los Muertos traditions and more, forming blended narratives that speak to his personal experience and unique cultural perspective. Moisés’ month-long show

This Too Shall Pass

June 19th – July 19th, 2020
KEEP Contemporary presents a group exhibition bringing together three artists whose work confronts various socio-political issues in distinct new contemporary styles. New Mexico painter Katy Kidd, Coachella Valley assemblage artist Carlos Ramirez, and multidisciplinary artist and activist Jesse Hazelip each present meaningful work that together inspires “understanding, empathy, and action” from the public, particularly when it comes to cultural inequality and injustice. Working in a variety of media, the artists present intertwining narratives that shine a light on the populations and cultural sectors that are especially subject to discrimination and hardship due to current societal practices. This Too Shall Pass will be on display at the gallery from June 19^th – July 19^th.

Atomic Roadhouse: Dennis Larkins Solo Show

May 15 – June 14 , 2020
KEEP Contemporary presents a dynamic exhibition for low brow and pop surrealist pioneer Dennis Larkins. Titled, “Atomic Roadhouse: Climbing From the Wreckage,” this show draws upon post apocalyptic metaphors that populate Larkins’ narrative-style pop paintings. Sci-fi and futuristic elements come through in the work as Larkins imagines a world of existential threat, while presenting the state of dystopia that could follow.

Dirk Kortz: Solo Show

April 19 – June 15 , 2020
KEEP Contemporary features Santa Fe artist Dirk Kortz for a solo exhibition opening Friday, April 17th with a body of work that includes brand new paintings alongside earlier styles. Kortz’ representational paintings are visually thematic, yet have no intended allegory or symbolic meaning for the viewer. His disparate imagery is compelling – if not sometimes confusing – which draws us into our own story and unique interpretations. Mostly figurative, his compositions have a retro, graphic feel that is a mix of pop art and surrealism.

From the Black: Lydia Hesse Solo Show

Mar 20 – Apr 12, 2020
This March, KEEP Contemporary presents a solo exhibition for
Santa Fe artist Lydia Hesse and her “Spirit People” portraits. Mystical and enchanting, Hesse’s figures emerge from dark backdrops as they confront the viewer with their benevolent gaze and stoic presence. Each figure represents a feeling of peace and connection to nature, which is meant to draw the viewer into a realm that is free of chaos and open to infinite possibilities.
“These images represent guardian angels of nature – and of us,” says Hesse of her portraits. “Serene, enchanting, powerful and delicate, they pull the viewer in to where we all should dwell – in benevolence with nature and humankind.”

The New Vanguard: Explorations into the New Contemporary

Feb 21 – Mar 15, 2020
KEEP Contemporary sets the stage for 2020 with The New Vanguard: Explorations into the New Contemporary:
an international juried show that brings together some of the top artists from the new contemporary art movement. The gallery’s call emphasized hyper realism,low brow, abstract, outsider and pop art but remained open-ended, resulting in over 700 submissions from over 200 artists. Thirty-three exhibitors and about sixty works were selected, which reflect a wide-range of mediums. The international juried show is in line with KEEP’s mission to stimulate the local art market in its exposure of unconventional and underrepresented talent.

How Did We Get Here

Jan 24 – Feb 16, 2020
This January, KEEP Contemporary is proud to present “How Did We Get Here,” a dual exhibition featuring the work of Dallas-based artists Abi Salami and Jammie Holmes. Prolific and self-taught painters, Salami and Holmes paint cultural, biographical works that are unapologetically honest, tackling sensitive issues relating to mental health, religion, politics and more. Both artists use their own experiences to inform their subject matter, which is often deeply personal yet resonates with a broad audience. As a result, their paintings become a platform for social change and awareness around these issues, which affect individuals of all backgrounds regardless of race, wealth or gender.

Everything’s Illuminated-3 Year Anniversary Group Show

Dec 20- Jan 19, 2020
KEEP Contemporary reflects on the past three years as an exciting and evolving journey from its first intimate exhibition to its most recent rocking receptions on Lincoln Avenue. Gallery Director Jared Antonio-Justo Trujillo is committed to creating a platform for “new contemporary art,” and is enlivening the Santa Fe market with unexpected genres and supremely talented artists. Judging from the continued excited response to KEEP’s openings and events, this unique and unparalleled gallery is filling a much needed niche in the local art community. “Everything is Illuminated III” is a celebration of these voices that are now being heard in Santa Fe’s art market through the continued initiatives of KEEP Contemporary.

Just Beyond the Horizon: Katie O’Sullivan Solo ShOW

Nov 15-Dec 15, 2019

Katie O’Sullivan’s provocative paintings challenge typical notions of feminine beauty. Gritty yet enchanting, her self-assured figures are outward expressions of innermost feelings. Struggles, joys and fears are exposed through abstract mark making, earthy color palettes and shadowy forms; the resulting figures are primitive and animalistic yet retain their femininity with exaggerated anatomy and sensuality. Full of wonder, drama, sadness and bliss, O’Sullivan’s paintings are exalted visions of the female experience.

Readings: gROUP SHOW FEATURING eLIZABETH lEGGETT, lEE mOYER, sIENNA lUNA, AND rEIKO mURAKAMI

Oct 11 – Nov 10, 2019

“Readings,” opening this fall at KEEP Contemporary, is a group exhibition of four artists whose work has been inspired by the guiding wisdom, karmic narrative and spiritual symbolism of Tarot cards. Featured artists include guest curator and illustrator Elizabeth Leggett along with other notable illustrators and painters including Lee Moyer, Sienna Luna and Reiko Murakami Rice. Exhibiting artists blend themes from Tarot with ideas from short stories, speculative fiction and fantasy writing in their own unique interpretation of the show’s theme. “Readings” opens with a reception on October 11th from 5-8pm. Learn more about each artist and their work below:

Explosions in the Sky

Sep 13 – Oct 6, 2019

This fall, KEEP Contemporary presents a body of work by master abstract artist Sergio Moyano with the solo exhibition, “Explosions in the Sky,” opening September 13th. Born in Cordoba, Argentina in 1934, Moyano is an established painter and printmaker who studied at the National School of Fine Arts, the National Academy, and the Superior School of Art in Buenos Aires. He has exhibited his work all over the world from Paris to Munich to New York City and Santa Fe, his home since the 1970s. “Explosions in the Sky” features a series of Moyano’s abstract oil and acrylic paintings that span decades of the artist’s long and fruitful career. Now 85 years old, Moyano is no longer producing artwork, bringing significance to this exhibition as a celebration of his life and legacy.

Neighborhood Codices

Aug 16 – Sep 8, 2019

This August, KEEP Contemporary features three respected artists whose work reflects on urban indigenous experiences and the multi-layered identities found within Chicano and Native cultures. All three are accomplished muralists and fine art painters, New Mexico artist Nani Chacon and Los Angeles artists Ricardo Estrada and Antonio Mejia come together for “Neighborhood Codices,” opening Friday, August 16th from 5 – 8 pm at KEEP Contemporary.

Nuevo Nortenos

Jul 26 – Aug 11, 2019

KEEP Contemporary breaks tradition during Santa Fe’s Spanish Market weekend with the opening of “Nuevos Norteños” – a group exhibition featuring four regional artists whose work pays homage to Spanish Colonial art, yet views the genre through a modern lens. As Spanish artists, the exhibitors share the same cultural lineage as those who line the streets just outside KEEP’s doors at Market, yet present their heritage in ways that expand our perspective and spark fresh dialogue. Connecting the past with the present, “Nuevos Norteños” opens on July 26th and will be on display alongside Traditional Spanish Market, which takes place in downtown Santa Fe on July 27th and 28th.

When Worlds Collide: Explorations Into The New Contemporary

Jun 14 – July 20, 2019

When Worlds Collide: Explorations into the New Contemporary features over 70 of today’s most extraordinary artists of the post-pop or lowbrow art movement, from the legendary HR Giger to the region’s most exciting emerging talent. Guest curated by lowbrow and pop-surrealist pioneer Dennis Larkins along with Gallery Director and street artist Jared Antonio-Justo Trujillo, the exhibition champions one of today’s fastest growing art movements in its exploration of the past, present and future of the New Contemporary. Van Arno, Anthony Ausgang, Mark Bryan, KRK Ryden, RK Sloan, Joe Vaux and Eric Joyner are major players in the New Contemporary movement who will be represented in the exhibition. Their work will hang alongside emerging and prolific artists of the area who work in the same spectrum, offering the Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico art scene a broad vision of the movement within an art historic and geographic context.

NORD: International Photography Exhibit

May 17 – Jun 9, 2019

KEEP Contemporary, presents five international photographers whose work combines elements of landscape, figure and fantasy. Hailing from Iceland, Norway and Russia, the artists use the poetic, chilling Nordic landscape as a catalyst and backdrop for dark narratives and mystical compositions. Cool and moody imagery provides a stark contrast to Santa Fe’s high desert environment in this unexpected and visually striking exhibition. The provocative work of the following photographers presents a seamless aesthetic in “NORD,” evoking an eerie folklore feel that is at once disturbing and enchanting. The exhibition was arranged by gallery director Jared Antonio- Justo Trujillo and participating artist Jean-Baptiste Mouton. Several artists will be in attendance for the exhibition opening on May 17th.

Beyond the Veil: 3rd Annual Abstract Invitational

Apr 19 – May 12, 2019

Keep Contemporary is excited to present, “Beyond the Veil”. Their 3^rd Annual Abstract Art Invitational Group Show. The gallery will feature over twenty-five artists including Keep’s represented artists as well as exciting new talent. Exhibitinghttps://keepcontemporary.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=18&action=edit&classic-editor# artists are from all over the country and work in a variety of media in this dynamic exhibition that showcases a wide range of voices and visions.

Where There is Darkness, You Are The Light

Mar 23 – Apr 14, 2019

When There is Darkness, You Are the Light is an exhibition of new, abstract wall sculpture and installation art by Santa Fe artist and KEEP gallery director Jared Antonio-Justo Trujillo. The sculptures, created in a style that Trujillo has evolved since 2011, are first hand-drawn by the artist before translated into water jet cut aluminum, mounted and then backlit with LED lighting. Trujillo will have five to six new works for the show in addition to an unexpected site-specific installation. The exhibit opens with a catered reception coinciding with the grand re-opening of Design Warehouse next door, with music provided by local DJ 13pieces. Inspired by nature, technology, graffiti and even Native American pottery, Trujillo’s abstract shapes also have a spiritual bent, which led to the show’s title. When There is Darkness, You Are the Light references our inherent connection or oneness with a divine energy. Each sculpture’s subtle glow speaks to this spiritual presence.

New contemporary: high art, low art, and everything in between

Feb 22 – Mar 17, 2019

JURIED EXHIBITION BRINGS OVER 40 NATIONAL NEW CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS TO SANTA FE
KEEP Contemporary sets the stage for 2019 with New Contemporary: High Art, Low Art and Everything in Between, a juried show that brings together some of the nation’s top artists from the new contemporary art movement. The gallery’s call emphasized low brow, outsider and pop art but remained open-ended, resulting in over 700 submissions from over 200 artists. Forty-three exhibitors and about seventy works were selected, which reflect a wide-range of mediums from textiles to taxidermy. The national juried show is in line with KEEP’s mission to stimulate the local art market in its exposure of unconventional and underrepresented talent.

Everything is Illuminated -2nd year Anniversary Group show

Dec 21 – Jan 13, 2019

Keep Contemporary celebrates their second anniversary as a gallery with the group exhibition, “Everything is Illuminated,” opening December 21st. The gallery will feature over forty artists including Keep’s represented artists as well as exciting new talent. Exhibiting artists are from all over the world and work in a variety of media in this dynamic exhibition that shines light on a wide range of voices and visions.
KEEP Contemporary reflects on the past two years as an exciting and evolving journey, from its first intimate exhibition on San Francisco Street to its most recent rocking openings on Lincoln Avenue. Founder Jared Antonio-Justo Trujillo is committed to creating a platform for “new contemporary art,” and is enlivening the Santa Fe market with unexpected genres and supremely talented artists. Judging from the excited response to Keep’s openings and events, this unique and unparalleled gallery is filling a much needed niche in the local art community. “Everything is Illuminated” is a celebration of these voices that are now being heard in Santa Fe’s art market through the continued initiatives of Keep Contemporary.

Visceral – the Surreal Art of Victor Whitmill

Nov. 16 – Dec. 16 2018

In Victor Whitmill’s surreal and fantastical artworks, unidentifiable creatures transform into industrial landscapes, or skeletal female figures expose sinuous muscle beneath elongated forms. The New Mexico artist twists and manipulates familiar imagery in compositions that blend realism and abstraction while juxtaposing the recognizable with the unknown. Inexplicable narratives push past rational thought or intellectual interpretation, stirring the viewer’s emotions with terrorizing yet enchanting visuals.

Two – Women Show : Katie O’Sullivan & Lavanya Dawn

Oct 19 – Nov 18 2018

This fall, Santa Fe painters Katie O’Sullivan and Lavanya Dawn will team up for a two-woman exhibition at KEEP Contemporary that radically redefines our idea of the feminine.Working in individual styles conducive to Keep’s offbeat aesthetic, O’Sullivan and Dawn illustrate the female experience with raw emotion and surreal imagery. Sublime, mysterious, haunting and enchanting, this dynamic pairing of loosely figurative work makes for a powerful exhibition at Keep Contemporary’s intimate downtown gallery space.

End Of Summer Group Show

Sept 14 – Sept 30 2018
Featuring Keep Contemporary Resident Artists and Introducing to the line up of heavy hitters:
Jeffrey Pitt, Victor Whitmill, Ally Burke, Dano Sanchez, Mikel Roman, Allison M. Low, Bailey Hunter Robinson, Mario Romero, Nate Seubert, Patrick Haemmerlein, and Chris Roberts-Antieau

Dion Terry: Indian Market Kick Off Show

Aug 17 – Sept 9, 2018
Featuring the artwork of Dion Terry

2nd Annual Abstract Invitational – Beyond the Veil

June 15 – July 16 2018

Heavy Hitters – Season Opener

May 18 – June 10 2018