Since 1974, the artistic and cultural contributions of 333 individuals have been recognized with the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts. This Web site includes biographical information on all the award recipients since 2007. Select a name from the list below to learn more about the recipients.
(2018 - , Leadership in the Arts)
Higgins, K. Lloyd
(1993 - , Arts Education/Music)Joe, Cheryl
(1994 - , Allan Houser Memorial Award) (2018 - , Major Contributor to the Arts)
Lucero Valenzeula, Ricardo
(1991 - , Music Education)Sinclair, John L.
(1992 - , Literature)Waters, Elizabeth
(1975 - , Dance)O'Keeffe, Georgia
(1974 - Abiquiu, Painting)Lewis, Lucy M.
(1983 - Acoma Pueblo, Pottery)Abrams, Jonathan
(2000 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)Adams, Clinton
(1985 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)American Home Furnishings,
(1993 - Albuquerque, Outstanding Corporate Support)Anaya, Dr. Rudolfo A.
(1980 - Albuquerque, Literature)Antreasian, Garo Z.
(1987 - Albuquerque, Visual Arts)Berkowitz, Ralph
(2004 - Albuquerque, Music)Bunting, Dr. Bainbridge
(1978 - Albuquerque, Architectural History)Cottonwood Printing Co, Inc., Victor Scherzinger
(1986 - Albuquerque, Outstanding Corporate Support) (2015 - Albuquerque, Individual Artist)
Evans, Max
(1993 - Albuquerque, Literature)Garcia, Hector
(1988 - Albuquerque, Music) (2013 - Albuquerque, Individual Artist)
Hahn (UNM, Fine Arts), Betty
(1995 - Albuquerque, Visual Arts/Photography)Hall, Douglas Kent
(2005 - Albuquerque, Photography)Hammersley, Frederick
(2005 - Albuquerque, Painting)Harjo, Joy
(1997 - Albuquerque, Poetry)Hayes, Joe
(1995 - Albuquerque, Literature/Storytelling)Hillerman, Tony
(1990 - Albuquerque, Literature)Hurley, Wilson
(1993 - Albuquerque, Visual Arts/Painting)Hurricane, Al
(1993 - Albuquerque, Music)Jonson, Raymond
(1975 - Albuquerque, Painting)Kempter, Dale
(2002 - Albuquerque, Music Educator)KGGM-TV-13,
(1990 - Albuquerque, Outstanding Corporate Support) (2008 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2019 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Kozikowski, Janusz
(1982 - Albuquerque, Weaving)Kozikowski, Nancy
(1982 - Albuquerque, Weaving)Lucero, Abad Eloy
(1995 - Albuquerque, Traditional Arts, Woodworking) (2017 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Lujan, Edward L.
(2005 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)Mabry, Jane
(1995 - Albuquerque, Painter)Martinez, Roberto
(1999 - Albuquerque, Music)McCulloch, Frank
(2001 - Albuquerque, Art Educator/Artist)Morris, Rippel
(1997 - Albuquerque, WatercolorPainting)Nagatani, Patrick
(2003 - Albuquerque, Photography)Ovenwest Corporation,
(1988 - Albuquerque, Outstanding Corporate Support)Pierce, Florence Miller
(2003 - Albuquerque, Painting)Pimental Family,
(1994 - Albuquerque, Guitar Makers)Predock, Antoine
(1989 - Albuquerque, Architecture)Robb, Dr. J.D.
(1975 - Albuquerque, Music) (2007 - Albuquerque, Sculpture/Detonography)
Roybal, Max
(1986 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)Sandoval, Bonifacio
(1993 - Albuquerque, Traditional Arts/Tinsmithing)Schultz, Ruth
(2004 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)Takeda, Yoshimi
(1979 - Albuquerque, Music)Tamarind Institute,
(1992 - Albuquerque, Outstanding Corporate Support)Thompson Edmister, Grace
(1974 - Albuquerque, Music)Ulibarri, Dr. Sabine
(1987 - Albuquerque, Literature) (2009 - Albuquerque, Sculpture)
Velarde, Pablita
(1977 - Albuquerque, Painting)Weinrod, William L.
(1984 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts) (2007 - Albuquerque, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2010 - Albuquerque, Major Contributors to the Arts)
Salazar, David
(1982 - Alcalde, Music)Frederick, Dr. Kurt
(1977 - Alexandria, Music)Spencer, Jacqueline
(1998 - Alto, Major Contributor to the Arts) (2021 - Alto, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2008 - Artesia, Painting and Mural Artistry)
Farrer, John
(1991 - Bakersfield, Music) (2011 - Belen, Individual Artist)
First Natl Bank/ Belen,
(1991 - Belen, Outstanding Corporate Support)Ortiz, Cleofes
(1986 - Bernal, Folk Music) (2022 - Bernalillo, Dance)
Feezer, Frances
(2003 - Carlsbad, Individual Contributor to the Arts)Intn Minerals & Chemicals Corp., Al Paneral
(1987 - Carlsbad, Outstanding Corporate Support) (2022 - Carlsbad, Crafts)
Atencio, Paulette
(2003 - Chama, Folklorist/Storyteller) (2015 - Chimayó, Individual Artist)
(2011 - Chimayo, Individual Artist)
Cordero, Helen
(1982 - Cochiti Pueblo, Pottery) (2011 - Cochiti Pueblo, Individual Artist)
(2015 - Cochiti Pueblo, Individual Artist)
Cordova, Gloria Lopez
(2000 - Cordova, Santera)Lopez, George
(1982 - Cordova, Sculpture)Bryan, Howard
(1994 - Corrales, Literature)Corrales Historical Society, John Weitzel
(1990 - Corrales, Historic Pres Support/Arts)Grandbois, Dorothy
(2001 - Corrales, Allan Houser Memorial Award)Nieto, John
(1994 - Corrales, Painting)Quick-to-See-Smith, Jaune
(2005 - Corrales, Allan Houser Memorial Award)American Express,
(1998 - Dallas, Outstanding Corporate Support) (2016 - Dixon, Artist, Painting)
Pesata, Lydia
(1988 - Dulce, Crafts)Egri, Ted
(1996 - El Prado, Visual Arts/Sculpture)Gorman, R.C.
(1989 - El Prado, Visual Arts)Chappell, Walter
(1999 - El Rito, Photography) (2016 - El Rito, Artist, Painting/Sculpture/Mixed Media)
Vigil, Cipriano
(1994 - El Rito, Traditional Music) (2017 - El Valle, Artist, Writing/Literature)
(2016 - Espanola, Artist, Master Santero/Spanish Colonial Bultos)
Naranjo, Michael
(1975 - Espanola, Sculpture)Tafoya, Margaret
(1985 - Espanola, Pottery)Freimuth, William
(2002 - Farmington, Architect) (2022 - Farmington, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Irwin, Sara Wea
(2000 - Fort Hall, Allan Houser Memorial Award) (2014 - Galisteo, Individual Artist)
(2010 - Galisteo, Individual Artist)
Scholder, Fritz
(1983 - Galisteo, Visual Arts) (2021 - Gallup, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Howard, Cecil
(1999 - Glenwood, Painter/Collage) (2022 - Golden, Visual Artist)
Evans, Bill
(2001 - Hamlin, Dancer) (2014 - Hillsboro, Individual Artist)
Floyd, Glynese
(2004 - Hobbs, Theatre) (2012 - Hobbs, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Walker, Joyce
(2002 - Hobbs, Contributor to the Arts)Jimenez, Luis
(1993 - Hondo, Visual Arts/Sculpture)Cota, Laura Fragua
(1999 - Jemez Pueblo, Allan Houser Memorial Award) (2021 - Jemez Pueblo, Visual Artist)
Joe, Sr., Oreland C.
(2000 - Kirtland, Sculptor)Yazzie, Erma
(1996 - La Crescenta, Allan Houser Memorial Award)Babey, Laurena Fenow
(2000 - Las Cruces, Major Contributor to the Arts)Cantrell, Ruth
(2002 - Las Cruces, Theatre Artist/Arts Educator) (2015 - Las Cruces, Individual Artist)
(2016 - Las Cruces, Major Contributors to the Arts)
(2015 - Las Cruces, Individual Artist)
First Natl Bank/ Dona Ana Cnty,
(1992 - Las Cruces, Outstanding Corporate Support)Gabbi, Marianna
(1997 - Las Cruces, Music Director & Conductor)Glowacki, John M.
(1986 - Las Cruces, Major Contributor to the Arts) (2009 - Las Cruces, Sculpture)
(2011 - Las Cruces, Individual Artist)
(2014 - Las Cruces, Major Contributors to the Arts)
(2012 - Las Cruces, Individual Artist)
(2011 - Las Cruces, Major Contributors to the Arts)
(2022 - Las Cruces, Visual Artist)
McIlvoy, Kevin
(2005 - Las Cruces, Literature)Medoff, Mark
(1980 - Las Cruces, Theater)Oliver-Lewis, Irene
(2006 - Las Cruces, Major Contributor to the Arts)Wilson, Keith
(1988 - Las Cruces, Literature)Farnsworth, Richard
(2000 - Lincoln, Film/Actor) (2007 - Los Alamos, Allan Houser Memorial Award)
Cotsen Family Foundation, Lloyd Cotsen
(1995 - Los Angeles, Outstanding Corporate Support) (2019 - Los Lunas, Individual Artist)
Snidow, Gordon
(1998 - Los Lunas, Visual Arts/Painter)Martinez, Agueda
(1975 - Medanales, Weaving)Taylor, John Paul
(2005 - Mesilla, Major Contributor to the Arts)Chavez, Denise
(1995 - Mesilla Valley, Literature) (2007 - New Mexico, Major Contributor to the Arts.)
Garson, Greer&Col E.E. Fogelson
(1987 - Pecos, Major Contributor to the Arts)Williamson, Dr. Jack
(1979 - Portales, Literature) (2007 - Quemado, Spanish Colonial Tinwork)
Bloch, Nancy & Richard
(1997 - Rancho Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Velarde, Carmen
(1989 - Ranchos de Taos, Adobe Art) (2007 - Raton, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2010 - Raton, Major Contributors to the Arts)
Apodaca, Antonia
(1992 - Rociada, Traditional Arts/Music)Anderson, Donald B.
(1983 - Roswell, Major Contributor to the Arts)Aston, Rogers
(1999 - Roswell, Bronze Sculpture)Avery, Keith
(1994 - Roswell, Poetry)Dominguez, Eddie
(2006 - Roswell, Artist/sculpture/ceramics) (2013 - Roswell, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2009 - Roswell, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2017 - Roswell, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Schooley, Elmer
(1986 - Roswell, Visual Arts)Thompson, Colonel James
(1994 - Roswell, Arts Education) (2011 - Roswell, Individual Artist)
Hubbard, R.D. & Joan Dale
(1991 - Ruidoso Downs, Major Contributor to the Arts)Vigil, Cleofes
(1985 - San Cristobal, Folk Music/Storytelling)Martinez, Maria
(1974 - San Ildefonso Pblo, Pottery) (2017 - San Ildefonso Pueblo, Artist, Pottery)
Tsosie, Robert Dale
(1995 - San Jose, Allan Houser Memorial Award)Martinez, Estefanita
(1998 - San Juan Pueblo, Storyteller) (2012 - San Lorenzo, Individual Artist)
(2015 - San Lorenzo, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Horgan, Paul
(1977 - San Patricio, Literature)Hurd, Peter
(1977 - San Patricio, Painting) (2016 - San Patricio, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Ligget Meigs, John
(1993 - San Patricio, Major Contributor to the Arts)Wyeth, Henriette
(1981 - San Patricio, Painting) (2009 - Santa Clara Pueblo, Pottery)
(2018 - Santa Clara Pueblo, Artist, Ceramics, Bronze and Glass)
(2019 - Santa Clara Pueblo, Individual Artist)
(2014 - Santa Clara Pueblo, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2012 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
Benitez, Maria
(1978 - Santa Fe, Dance)Boyd, Dr. E
(1974 - Santa Fe, Cultural Preservation) (2016 - Santa Fe, Artist, Painter/Mixed Media)
Burlington Resources, John Eichelman
(1989 - Santa Fe, Outstanding Corporate Support)Caponigro, Paul
(1984 - Santa Fe, Photography)Carrillo, Charlie
(1995 - Santa Fe, Traditional Arts, Santero) (2012 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Chalee, Pop
(1990 - Santa Fe, Painting)Chavez, Fray Angelico
(1976 - Santa Fe, Literature)Chunestudey, Don
(2003 - Santa Fe, Allan Houser Memorial Award/Sculptor)Clift, William
(1987 - Santa Fe, Photography)Coke, Van Deren
(1986 - Santa Fe, Photography/Art History) (2021 - Santa Fe, Visual Artist)
Cook, Howard
(1979 - Santa Fe, Painting)Corn, Blue
(1981 - Santa Fe, Pottery)Crosby, John O.
(1976 - Santa Fe, Music)Cross, Doris
(1986 - Santa Fe, Visual Arts)Dailey, Charles
(2001 - Santa Fe, Art Educator) (2015 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2019 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
(2018 - Santa Fe, Artist, Music)
Ellis, Fremont F.
(1981 - Santa Fe, Painting) (2007 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Fonseca, Harry
(2004 - Santa Fe, Allan Houser Memorial Award)Gaw Meem, John
(1974 - Santa Fe, Architecture)Gilpin, Laura
(1974 - Santa Fe, Photography)Girard, Mr. & Mrs. Alexander H.
(1980 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Goodacre, Glenna
(2005 - Santa Fe, Sculpture) (2021 - Santa Fe, Music)
Halford, Monica Sosaya
(2001 - Santa Fe, Santera/Artist) (2016 - Santa Fe, Artist, Glass)
Houser, Allan
(1980 - Santa Fe, Visual Arts)Hulings, Clark
(2004 - Santa Fe, Painting)Hyde, Doug
(2003 - Santa Fe, Sculptor) (2009 - Santa Fe, Blacksmithing and Sculpture)
King, Eleanor
(1987 - Santa Fe, Dance)Kirschke, William
(1982 - Santa Fe, Music) (2007 - Santa Fe, Fiber Arts/Weaving/Tapestry)
(2022 - Santa Fe, Visual Artist)
La Fonda, Jim Bradbury
(2000 - Santa Fe, Outstanding Corporate Support)Lannan, Patrick
(2004 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts) (2011 - Santa Fe, Major Contributors to the Arts)
Latham, Barbara
(1988 - Santa Fe, Visual Arts)Lefranc, Margaret
(1996 - Santa Fe, Visual Arts/Painting)Lippincott, Janet
(2002 - Santa Fe, Painting) (2008 - Santa Fe, Aural Historian)
Lopez, Ramon Jose
(1998 - Santa Fe, Santero/Furniture/ Silversmith)Lumpkins, William
(1985 - Santa Fe, Architecture, Painting) (2008 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Marion, Anne & John
(1996 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts) (2014 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Martinez, Angelina Delgado
(1984 - Santa Fe, Tinsmithing)Mauldin, Bill
(1983 - Santa Fe, Cartooning)McGarrity, Michael
(2004 - Santa Fe, Literature)McHugh, John Wells
(1992 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts) (2018 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2009 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Milner, Edwina
(2006 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Momaday, N.Scott
(1996 - Santa Fe, Literature)Mountain Bell(US West),
(1985 - Santa Fe, Outstanding Corporate Support)Namingha, Dan
(1995 - Santa Fe, Painter) (2019 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
New, Lloyd Kiva
(1999 - Santa Fe, Arts Education) (2016 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Newhall, Beaumont
(1983 - Santa Fe, Photography/History) (2008 - Santa Fe, Painting)
NM Council on Photography,
(1994 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)O'Shaughnessy, Michael and Marianne
(2001 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Oliphant, Patrick
(2005 - Santa Fe, Cartoonist/Painting/Sculpture) (2012 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2009 - Santa Fe, Literary Arts)
Paloheimo, Mr. & Mrs. Y.A.
(1981 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Parsons, Jack
(2006 - Santa Fe, Artist/Photography) (2009 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2018 - Santa Fe, Major Contributors to the Arts)
Pond Church, Peggy
(1984 - Santa Fe, Literature)Porter, Eliot
(1976 - Santa Fe, Photography)Quasthoff, Donna
(1990 - Santa Fe, Sculpture) (2010 - Santa Fe, Leadership in the Arts)
(2014 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
Ribera-Ortega, Pedro
(1997 - Santa Fe, Literature/Art Historian)Rich, Alicia Schacter & Sheldon
(1988 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Rivera, Elias
(2004 - Santa Fe, Painting)Rodriguez, Eliseo
(1980 - Santa Fe, Folk Arts)Rodriquez, Paula
(1994 - Santa Fe, Straw Applique)Ruthling, Ford
(2005 - Santa Fe, Painting/Sculpture/Printmaking)Sakiestewa, Ramona
(2006 - Santa Fe, Artist/Weaving)Sanchez, Joseph
(2006 - Santa Fe, Allan Houser Memorial Award) (2010 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
(2010 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
(2010 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
Sherman, Clara
(2006 - Santa Fe, Artist/Weaving) (2010 - Santa Fe, Major Contributors to the Arts)
Sims, Agnes
(1989 - Santa Fe, Visual Arts) (2022 - Santa Fe, Design Arts)
Steinke, Bettina
(1995 - Santa Fe, Visual Arts) (2010 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
Tapia, Luis
(1996 - Santa Fe, Visual Arts)Teters, Charlene
(2002 - Santa Fe, Allan Houser Memorial Award)Thaw Charitable Trust,
(1999 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)The Bank of Santa Fe,
(1984 - Santa Fe, Outstanding Corporate Support)The Santa Fe Opera, Richard Gaddes
(2006 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Turkle, Brinton
(2001 - Santa Fe, Literature/Children's Books)Vedder, Alan C.
(1982 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)Velasco, Delia
(1997 - Santa Fe, Allan Houser Memorial Award)Vigil, Frederico
(2002 - Santa Fe, Mural Fresco Artist) (2013 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
von Horvath, Irene
(1992 - Santa Fe, Painting & Architecture) (2008 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts)
(2018 - Santa Fe, Artist, Painting/Other Media)
(2013 - Santa Fe, Individual Artist)
(2017 - Santa Fe, Artist, Photographer)
Youngblood, Nancy
(2004 - Santa Fe, Pottery)Zeckendorf, Nancy
(2003 - Santa Fe, Major Contributor to the Arts) (2021 - Santo Domingo Pueblo, Visual Artist)
Burlington Resources, Thomas O'Leary
(1989 - Seattle, Outstanding Corporate Support) (2017 - Silver City, Artists, Music)
(2008 - Silver City, Painting)
(2019 - Silver City, Individual Contributor to the Arts)
McCray, Dorothy
(1992 - Silver City, Painting & Printmaking) (2013 - Silver City, Major Contributor to the Arts)
Anderson, Chilton
(2000 - Taos, Major Contributor to the Arts)Bell, Larry
(1990 - Taos, Visual Arts)Dasburg, Andrew
(1976 - Taos, Painting)Ellis, Robert
(1998 - Taos, Painter) (2021 - Taos, Individual Contributor to the Arts)
(2008 - Taos, Sculpture)
(2017 - Taos, Artist, Master Santero/Spanish Colonial Bultos and Retablos)
Jaramillo, Julia
(1993 - Taos, Traditional Arts/Music)Martin, Agnes
(1998 - Taos, Visual Arts/Painter) (2014 - Taos, Individual Artist)
Nichols, John
(1981 - Taos, Literature) (2010 - Taos, Individual Artist)
Reed, Doel
(1978 - Taos, Painting) (2012 - Taos, Individual Artist)
(2013 - Taos, Individual Artist)
Wagner, Rory
(2006 - Taos, Artist/Painting) (2013 - Taos, Individual Artist)
Waters, Frank
(1975 - Taos, Literature)Zink, Melissa
(2001 - Taos, Artist/Mix Media) (2022 - Taos Pueblo, Crafts)
(2018 - Tatum, Artist, Sculpture/Bronze)
Archuleta, Felipe
(1979 - Tesuque, Sculpture)Green, Austin 'Slim'
(1992 - Tesuque, Traditional Arts/Saddlemaking)Shidoni Foundry, Tommy Hicks
(1995 - Tesuque, Major Contributor to the Arts)Stedman, Myrtle
(1997 - Tesuque, Arts & Architecture)Goodman, William
(2005 - Tinnie, Sculpture/Painting)Mattox, Charles
(1978 - Tivoli, Sculpture)Howe, Delmas
(2006 - Truth or Consequences, Artist/Painting)Ortiz, Simon
(2000 - Tucson, Poet)Seowtewa, Alex
(1991 - Zuni, Painting)