The Southwestern United States is known for its rich Native American culture, with many local art institutions and galleries dedicated to cherishing and promoting their heritage. One of such art spaces in Santa Fe is Adobe Gallery, which was founded by Alexander E. Anthony, Jr., a passionate appreciator of Pueblo pottery traditions. The Fine Art Shippers team had a chance to visit the gallery during our recent art shuttle trip to New Mexico, and now, we want to share our experience of this unique hub of Southwest Indian art.
The History of Adobe Gallery
The gallery has a long history spanning over 50 years. Founded in 1975 as Pueblo Craft Arts, it changed its name to Adobe Gallery three years later. A person behind the project, Mr. Anthony had a distinguished career as a Nuclear Engineer in the United States Air Force, but his personal interest has always been collecting Pueblo pottery, turning into a life vocation after retirement.
During the first three years of the gallery’s existence, it featured mainly Pueblo pottery items, but its later art portfolio expanded to include Hopi Katsina dolls, Navajo rugs, pawn jewelry, and Southwest Indian baskets. At present, Adobe Gallery has a diverse collection of local artworks, both antique and contemporary, offering a complete tour of Southwest Indian art to visitors.
Dedication to Southwest Indian Art
Adobe Gallery represents an intimate encounter with the richness of local arts. Hand-woven Navajo textiles, paintings, baskets, and Pueblo pottery are conveniently hosted in the gallery’s space to encourage a friendly acquaintance under the close guidance of Native American art experts.
At present, Adobe Gallery’s visitors can explore several vast collections of art, including Southwest Indian pottery (historic and contemporary), a collection of Kachina dolls (performed in Zuni and Hopi styles), and Native American paintings, drawings, and original prints. Recent additions include a collection of authentic Native American furniture, textiles, and baskets. Western art is also presented in the gallery to offer breadth of artistic perspectives and the region’s art legacy.
Mr. Anthony has been consistently expanding his business and has contributed to the promotion of local crafts and art heritage by lecturing at museums, colleges, and conferences dedicated to Southwest Indian arts. He also consults the Antiques Roadshow and teaches classes at the University of New Mexico.
Adobe Gallery can be visited at 221 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, 10am to 5pm daily, except for Wednesday.