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For those not already immersed in it, the art world can seem out of reach, stuffy and at times, intimidating. But tucked away in a corner of Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza sits a contemporary art gallery that aims to make art more relatable and obtainable for those with even the most causal appreciation.
The Lapis Room (303 Romero St. NW), which is attached to the Noisy Water Winery (301 Romero St NW), offers a glimpse at work from local, contemporary artists. Deputy Director Meg Grgurich tells The Paper. that the artists who showcase their work at Lapis “are mostly young emerging artists and mid-career artists.”
Grgurich says after she got a degree in painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design she went on to work on “large-scale” theater sets in Chicago and eventually found herself in New Mexico working in film. But, she says, she found herself burning out in the film industry and a chance meeting with the owners of the Lapis Room in 2021 led her to her current role overseeing operations at the gallery.
The Paper. caught up with Grgurich just ahead of “The đź–¤ Show,” which is its latest “group show” that is “an exploration of the iconography of love, specifically the heart pictogram.” The show starts Feb. 1 and runs through March 17.Â
Albuquerque quite often gets overlooked when it comes to art galleries. Everyone focuses on Santa Fe. Do you find people are surprised when they come in?
Yeah, definitely. [Gallery co-owner] Laura [Houghton really had a vision for this place, and I think her timing was perfect. I think Albuquerque was just so ready for a contemporary gallery on a larger scale. I think that so many young artists, in particular, live in Albuquerque because Santa Fe is not super affordable and it can be hard to get into a gallery because Santa Fe is such an art spot. It can be hard to crack in. So, there are all these great artists living in Albuquerque trying to show in Santa Fe. And I think she recognized that disconnect, and it’s just really nice for everybody to have a spot in the town where they live, to show.
Can you talk a little bit of how this contemporary art gallery is set apart from the traditional southwest galleries?
That’s why I really loved it and that’s why I was attracted to it. Because, I think there’s something inherently intimidating about art galleries, especially if you don’t consider yourself an art person. I thought it was just so perfectly set up. We’ve got the winery on the one end, which kind of eases people’s entry. In the front end, we have a gift shop with local goods and local artisans and vendors. So it just eases people into the art and it makes it feel like it’s for them, and it’s accessible. We get to be there for a bunch of first time art buyers. I think it just sends the message that this is for you, you know, this is attainable. If you like it, you can buy it. You’re supporting your community, you’re supporting these artists. And if it speaks to you, then you are an art person. It doesn’t have to be for some elite class of people. It’s for everybody.
There’s this notion that appreciation of art is about perception and how you see things. Is that sort of the vibe that you all are all going for? If you like it, you don’t have to understand why you like it, if something speaks to you, it speaks to you. You don’t have to necessarily understand it from the academic art world perspective.
Exactly, yeah. I think, as someone who is an artist and has had those aspirations; you put all this thought into it, and it’s so personal. It’s loaded with so much personal meaning for you. Then when you put it out there, I’ve realized, it just takes on a life of its own and becomes its own thing. It’s going to mean something totally different to everyone that looks at it, and that’s cool. It’s like you’ve kind of just given birth to something and it is its own little person. You influenced it, but it’s its own thing, and different people get different things out of it that you never would have expected. I think that’s a cool thing to witness. You know, I’ve had paintings in here that I’ve really personally, really loved. Then we sold them to someone who just had a totally different take on them and brought their own personal experiences to whatever they saw. It’s a cool thing.
When folks maybe want to plan a visit, what should they know, what should they expect?
We try to be like a community hub, just as much as a gallery. We’re all about promoting these artists. They’re all great people. They’re all involved in Albuquerque in numerous ways. It feels very reflective of what’s happening in Albuquerque right now. I guess that’s why I was attracted to it. I didn’t particularly want to work in an art gallery. I had in the past and I didn’t love the experience, so I was hesitant, but the Lapis Room just feels very inviting, and I guess that’s the vibe that we want to put out there to people.
More information about the Lapis Room can be found at lapisroom.com.