Artist Showcases Pueblo Architecture With Minimalist, Color-Blocked Artwork

There’s a lot to explore in New Mexico, ranging from extensive desert landscapes to striking mountain ranges. In addition to its breathtaking national parks, the state boasts one of the world’s most unique architectural styles: Pueblo architecture, which can be traced back to as early as 1150 C.E. These structures are mainly constructed with adobe bricks, resulting in warm, reddish facades and textures. They are also central to Alvin Gill-Tapia’s artistic endeavors.

For many years, the artist from New Mexico has celebrated the Southwest’s unique geography and the diverse buildings that inhabit it. Much like an adobe structure, Gill-Tapia’s artwork is both stark and inviting, characterized by its vibrant color blocks and minimalist designs. It is evident that Gill-Tapia is more focused on conveying the ambiance rather than on replicating the architectural specifics. Each painting resonates with New Mexico’s expansive, clear skies; the dynamic shapes and vivid tones of adobe bricks; and the profound shadows alongside stark illumination of the desert. Excessive details would simply detract from the allure of these structures.

“Gill-Tapia’s technique often involves simplifying or streamlining architecture to showcase the essential components,” states the artist’s biography. “This minimization mirrors a harmonious and serene life led in Santa Fe.”

Lately, Gill-Tapia has been enhancing his artwork with lustrous elements. Summer at St. Francis, for example, incorporates gold and copper leaf, reflecting light as if genuinely warming under the desert’s rays. Full Moon Over Taos Pueblo also features golden accents but utilizes them for a contrasting effect. In this piece, Gill-Tapia steps away from the blazing sun and embraces a mystical night setting. Several Pueblo-style residences are positioned against a deep blue sky, with a silver moon visible from the right side of the canvas. The cobalt tones soften the gold and copper leaf slightly, creating a cooler appearance that suits the moonlit scene.

Such pieces were the centerpiece of Gilded Structures, a solo exhibition held at Manitou Galleries in Santa Fe last autumn. Throughout the gallery, Gill-Tapia’s artworks appeared to shimmer, inviting viewers to approach and observe the interplay between glossy and matte surfaces. These shimmering highlights also suggest the sacred nature of the landscape, one that Gill-Tapia and his ancestors have inhabited for generations. Indeed, Gill-Tapia currently lives in a house built by his family.

“Gill-Tapia creates art with a committed effort to honor the historical and significant structures that define the captivating scenery of the Southwest,” his biography elaborates. “Beyond their original spiritual meanings, these buildings offer local inhabitants a space for community gatherings.”

For more information about the artist, visit Alvin Gill-Tapia’s website and follow him on Instagram.