Burqueños Can Now View “Albuquerque” in Albuquerque

The Albuquerque Museum is honored to announce the acquisition of Richard Diebenkorn’s painting, Untitled (Albuquerque), 1952, which is now on view in the museum’s Common Ground exhibition.

Recognized as one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Richard Diebenkorn completed a Master’s in Fine Arts degree at the University of New Mexico (1952). He lived and worked in Albuquerque from 1950-1952 and described how the deep colors of the landscape, spectacular mountains, and vast blue skies of New Mexico deeply impacted his abstract works. The breakthrough he experienced in New Mexico shaped some of his most important later works.

“All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression,” Diebenkorn said.

“This acquisition is a big win for the Albuquerque Museum, but having it in our community is a big win for all Burqueños who enjoy art,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “As the museum’s collection grows, so does the its position as one of the most influential art institutions in the Southwest.”

Made possible by the Diebenkorn Foundation and the Frederick Hammersley Fund for the Arts at the Albuquerque Community Foundation, the Diebenkorn acquisition follows a series of important works recently added to Albuquerque Museum’s collection including prints, photographs, and installations by artists Delilah Montoya, Nicola López, Ron Rael, Paula Wilson, Raven Chacon, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Yoshiko Shimano.

Raven Chacon's sound installation and score is on view in Broken Boxes: Art, Action and Dialogue. Ron Rael's Pink Teeter Totter that was installed on the U.S. Mexico border wall and Yoshiko Shimano's print installation are on view in Common Ground. Joanna Keane Lopez's adobe works will be included in Abstracting Nature opening in June of 2025. Along with these acquisitions, the Albuquerque Museum holds one of the most important collections of Delilah Montoya's works which will be featured in a major exhibition of her installations, prints, and photography in January of 2026.

Josie Lopez, the Albuquerque Museum’s lead curator and curator of art, said:

“The Albuquerque Museum collection is one of the most important in our region. These impressive new acquisitions allow our city to share the stories of artists who have shaped

the visual and artistic narratives of our state and beyond. Growing the collection in exciting and diverse ways has provided an opportunity to both support and engage with living artists and to continue to explore many points of view that have shaped the rich history of art in New Mexico.

Richard Diebenkorn is an example of an important artist who was influenced by the land and beauty of our city. His time living and working in Albuquerque impacted his body of work that would later be considered one of the most important of the last century.

These acquisitions were the result of building relationships with artists and the organizations who support and recognize the important role that art plays in the culture and history of our city. The opportunity to care for the works themselves is important but it is also vital that our museum presents the many stories that celebrate the inspiration, knowledge, and creativity that art embodies.”