In the Spirit of Frida

“Innovation within Tradition” is a juried category at the annual Traditional Spanish Market, held every summer on Santa Fe’s plaza. Artists juried into this category were invited to submit works to “In the Spirit of Frida.”  The artists whose works are represented here clearly draw upon their strong foundation in the traditional arts of New Mexico, but their creative impulse has led them to experiment with new materials, subject matter and design. 

Luis Tapia, who participated in Spanish Market in the mid 1970s, was one of the first nuevomexicano artists to challenge the boundaries between traditional and contemporary art and to take his work in the direction of political, social and religious commentary. The works in this gallery beautifully illustrate the fluidity between tradition and innovation, as well as being a remarkable tribute to Frida as an icon and an artist.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website