Burqueños can now see “Albuquerque” in Albuquerque – the city of Albuquerque

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

Richard Diebenkorn is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century and completed a master’s degree in fine arts at the University of New Mexico in 1952. He lived and worked in Albuquerque from 1950 to 1952 and described how the deep colors of the landscape, spectacular mountains, and vast blue skies of New Mexico deeply influenced his abstract works. The breakthrough he experienced in New Mexico shaped some of his most important later works.

“All paintings start from a mood, from a relationship to things or people, from a complete visual impression,” said Diebenkorn.

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

Diebenkorn’s acquisition was made possible by the Diebenkorn Foundation and the Albuquerque Community Foundation’s Frederick Hammersley Fund for the Arts and follows a number of important works recently added to the 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 can be seen in Broken Boxes: Art, Action and Dialogue. Ron Rael’s Pink Teeter Totter, installed on the U.S.-Mexico border wall, and Yoshiko Shimano’s print installation are featured in Common Ground. Joanna Keane Lopez’s adobe works will be featured in the inaugural Abstracting Nature event in June 2025. In addition to these purchases, the Albuquerque Museum has one of the most significant collections of Delilah Montoya’s work, which will be featured in a major exhibition of her installations, prints, and photography in January 2026.

Josie Lopez, senior curator and art curator at the Albuquerque Museum, said:

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

the visual and artistic narratives of our state and beyond. Expanding the collection in exciting and diverse ways provided the opportunity to support and engage with living artists and continue to explore many viewpoints that have shaped New Mexico’s rich art history.

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

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