the Governor's Arts Award Winners

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.


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