Exhibit | New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

Social & Sublime: Land, Place, and Art

On display through Nov 17, 2019 at the New Mexico Museum of Art

The 20th century saw some of the most seismic shifts in the tried-and-true tradition of landscape as a subject for artists. In the United States, we left the 20th century with many of the same concerns we entered it with. Among those concerns are issues of land use, expansion and border conflicts, and industrialization and the conservation of natural resources. During that radical period American artists looked at the land and environment through a kaleidoscope of new lenses ranging from the purely formal to the politically engaged. Now that we have moved well into the 21st century, we are well positioned to look back at the way this genre was engaged in the previous century.

Social & Sublime: Land, Place, and Art looks at land through ideological frameworks of wilderness, frontier, landscape and ecology to explore shifting views of nature as an artistic subject across the 20th century. This exhibition presents a series of perspectives relating to how American artists used land and place in their work in dialogue with the social, aesthetic, political, and cultural viewpoints that have shaped our understanding of land.

Aspects of the show and related programs are in coordination with the The Great Unknown: Artists at Glen Canyon and Lake Powell on view March 30-September 15, 2019 at New Mexico Museum of Art.

Also on exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Art


New Mexico CulturePass

Your ticket to New Mexico's exceptional Museums and Historic Sites.
From Indian treasures to space exploration, world-class folk art to awesome dinosaurs—our museums and monuments celebrate the essence of New Mexico every day.
More Info »

The wallet size version of the CulturePass showing the $30 price
An animated image of a cell phone showing various topics presented in the Encounter Culture podcast

Encounter Culture

Take a look inside the museums and historic sites of New Mexico without leaving home. Join host Charlotte Jusinski, and a variety of guest curators, artists, and exhibitors in exploring the art and culture of the state in Encounter Culture, a new podcast from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

Logo and Link to Google Podcasts Logo and Link to Apple Podcasts Logo and Link to Spotify Podcasts

Featured DCA Exhibitions

A photo featuring items representing the The First World War exhibition

The First World War

The First World War exhibition investigates the contributions of New Mexicans to the war, through letters,
more »

A photo featuring items representing the The Palace Seen and Unseen: A Convergence of History and Archaeology  exhibition

The Palace Seen and Unseen: A Convergence of History and Archaeology

Reflecting current archaeological and historical perspectives, Palace Seen and Unseen draws from historic documents,
more »

A photo featuring items representing the Staff Picks: Favorites from the Collection exhibition

Staff Picks: Favorites from the Collection

Staff Picks: Favorites from the Collection features objects that were selected by members of the Museum of
more »

A photo featuring items representing the Miguel Trujillo and the Pursuit of Native Voting Rights exhibition

Miguel Trujillo and the Pursuit of Native Voting Rights

The New Mexico History Museum is proud to present “Miguel Trujillo and the Pursuit of Native Voting
more »