Spectra Art Gallery

Located in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico, the Spectra Gallery highlights the creative works of honors students and alumni. The gallery also exhibits contemporary artists through annual solo shows. The gallery is open during the week, excluding holidays, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Artistic selections are made by a team of UNM faculty members from honors and the art department. Calls for annual student and alumni exhibitions will be made via the Honors College newsletter and social media. For information about applying for a solo show, see this application.

Open Calls for Art

Honors College Call for Solo Artist Exhibitions| Spectra Gallery Floor Plan

Current Exhibition

Ashley Czajkowski's exhibit, In Memoriam, navigates the intricate intersection of domestic and wild elements, honoring non-human animals and exploring the collective healing that arises through art-making and mourning. The work creates lumen prints with found bird bodies using hand-coated photo emulsion on fabric and is presented in embroidery hoops. Embroidery was added to the work during a community collaborative Sewing Circle/Death Salon setting to reflect on the tenuous relationship between humans and the natural world.

Click here to read more about Ashley Czajkowski's exhibit.

Previous Exhibitions

Kate Bingaman Burt Risographs, Fall 2023

Solitary Crossroads, Honors Student Exhibition, Summer 2023

Spectra Gallery housed in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico is hosting an art exhibition showcasing the creative works of honors students. Solitary Crossroads, is displaying the works of students Gillian Barkhurst, Sachi Barnaby, Elena Bunker Ruiz, Shay Castillo, Rosie Deal, Maddie Gomez, Renata Gonzales, Christina Huston, Ian Hutchinson, Raychel Kool, Victoria Nisoli, Jordan Perez, Isabella Romero, Samantha Sena, Molly Starr and Emma Ziegler. Their work will be on view in the Spectra Gallery from May 12 to August 14th, 2023. 

Dandelion: Andrew Michael Joseph + Lucien V. Sebastian, Spring 2023

Spectra Gallery is hosting at exhibition showcasing the creative collaborative works of honors and honors Bachelor of Fine Arts students, Andrew Michael Joseph and Lucien V. Sebastian. Dandelion explores the empowerment and acceptance of bodies in transition. The exhibit will be on view in the Spectra Gallery from April 14h-May 12, 2023. There will be a public closing ceremony on May 12th from 4-6 pm. The artists will discuss their work during the event.

Listen, Honors Student Exhibition, Spring 2023

Spectra Gallery housed in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico is hosting an art exhibition showcasing the creative works of honors students. Listen, is displaying the works of students Lourdes Cazarez, Raychel Kool, Austin Nguyen, Ilhunanya Okechuckwa, John Scott, Alex Smith, and Reyes Reynaga. Their work will be on view in the Spectra Gallery from January 23th to April 6th, 2023. There will be a public closing ceremony on April 6th, 2023 from 5-6:00pm. Student artists will discuss their work during the event.

Foot Prints Across Time and Along The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

Spectra Gallery housed in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico is hosting an art exhibition titled, Foot Prints Across Time and Along The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, by Professor Troy Lovata’s class. Lovato’s class, The Archeology of Trails, took a four day three night backpacking trip along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area outside Cuba, New Mexico. In this interdisciplinary, experimental course it allows students to make explicit and meaningful connections between readings, seminar discussions, and field experience. That is now all reflected upon their art that is being showcased in the Spectra Gallery. Starting November 29th, 2022 until the end of the Fall 2022 semester, the exhibition will be on view in the Spectra Gallery. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. 

Read this article about the work that was showcased.

Honors College Alumni Art Exhibition

Hyunju Blemel - Modern Dirndl

Caitlin Carcerano - Reclamation, Sunshine, and Tender (after ophelia)

Rowan Derrick - From the Depths

Lindsey Turnbow - Wake Up

Bright Field, by Anna Westfall 

Spectra Gallery housed in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico is hosting an art installation, Bright Field, by Anna Westfall. Westfall is an alumna of the MFA program (2005) in sculpture and ceramics at UNM and a professor of art at Eastern Mennonite University. 

Her work is a study of life at both its most microscopic and macroscopic levels through ceramic forms. As Westfall’s artist statement outlines, “the surfaces of the dark sculptures originate from microscopic images that were often documented and studied using brightfield microscopy. They reference structures of viruses, pollen, cancer cells, or bacteria. By exploring objects that range from a mere nuisance to deadly, the unpredictable nature of life is examined.” For more of Anna’s work visit: https://www.annawestfall.com/ 

The exhibition will be on view in Spectra Gallery from August 1st to October 7th, 2022 and is open to the public. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. 

Read this article about Anna's work from the Daily Lobo, written by Sierra Martinez.

Read the press release about Anna's work from the UNM Newsroom.

Presence, Honors Student Exhibition, Spring 2022

The University of New Mexico Honors College is showcasing the creative works of honors students in the exhibition, Presence. Honors students, Rachael Buffett, Gabriella Mareza, Lucien Guy, April Vihlidal, Jeanie Vo, and Alina Vulcan have work in the exhibition which will be on view in the Honors College Spectra Gallery from January 28 to April 1, 2022. Join us for a public closing reception on April 1 from 4:30-6 pm.

New Visions, Honors Student Exhibition, Fall 2021

The University of New Mexico Honors College is showcasing the creative works of honors students in the exhibition, New Visions. Honors students, Andrew Jogi, Coti Kremer, Sydney Nesbit, Madison Otero, Alana Robinson, and Taryn Roe have work in the exhibition which will be on view in the honors college gallery from September 13th to December 20th 2021.

A Yellow Rose Project, National Photography Exhibition, Fall 2020