A sweeping new exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe celebrates the life and work of American modernist Marsden Hartley.
Marsden Hartley: Adventurer in the Arts brings together 40 artworks and rare personal artifacts, chronicling his travels and creative evolution across Europe, North America, and particularly the American Southwest.
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Hartley, born in New England in 1877, drew inspiration from diverse cultures and landscapes. His distinctive multicultural perspective is reflected throughout the exhibit, which features key works from the Vilcek Collection—including the rarely seen Schiff (1915)—as well as contributions from the Bates College Museum of Art in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine.
Curated by Emily Schuchardt Navratil, the exhibition highlights Hartley’s profound connection to New Mexico, where he lived briefly and later evoked in his New Mexico Recollections series. “New Mexico resonated deeply with Hartley,” says Navratil, noting his fascination with Pueblo ceremonies and the region’s spirit.
Visitors can engage with Hartley’s world through interactive stations, journal prompts, and creative activities inspired by his writings and travels.
Developed by the Vilcek Foundation—known for celebrating immigrant contributions to American culture—and Bates College Museum of Art, Marsden Hartley: Adventurer in the Arts is on view through July 25, 2025.
Source: Tracing Marsden Hartley’s Artistic Journey: A Return to New Mexico
