On Albuquerque’s Westside, Merge Modern is introducing a new creative rhythm to the community by blending contemporary art with the day-to-day warmth of a neighborhood coffee shop. The collaboration between Catalyst Coffee owner Michael Breden and local artist/curator Angie Rehnberg began by chance when Rehnberg visited the shop while planning a pop-up show.
“I was actually looking for another artist to display here. And she was here with a friend of hers,” says Breden.
The two struck up a conversation, and when Breden learned about her curatorial background, things clicked quickly. “She came in and hung her work, and that’s pretty much how we became friends,” says Breden.
For Rehnberg, the idea of shaping a gallery inside a coffee shop aligned naturally with her years in the art field. “I sort of work very intuitively with how I feel like shows should mesh together between the people and the storytelling,” says Rehnberg.
Her experience stretches back to childhood, starting when she began working in a gallery at age 11. Over the years she curated exhibitions across the state and organized pop-ups in unconventional spaces, including one-night-only shows in vacant Albuquerque buildings.
This history helped shape the vision for Merge Modern’s first exhibition, On the Verge, which she developed using artists she has known personally from the Albuquerque art space. “I have a really wide resource of artists in just my circle, professional circle, friends circle, my life circle,” says Rehnberg.
The inaugural show captures a range of themes and tones. “For this show, I feel like it’s very much about storytelling,” says Rehnberg, describing works that move from surreal gestures to pieces that speak to current issues and others that offer a more whimsical touch. Exhibitions are planned to rotate every two months. As Rehnberg puts it, “The goal is to sell the work,” and the rhythm of rotation allows for flexibility, replenishment and ongoing opportunities for artists.
Breden’s role in this partnership comes from his long interest in cultivating community. Catalyst Coffee has always served as more than a shop. “I built the shop to build community around the shop and support local artists,” says Breden.
Breden’s background stretches from Albuquerque to the Bay Area, where he ran a mobile coffee business at festivals and arts-related events. After returning home in 2019, he opened Catalyst Coffee with a vision of creating a neighborhood hub. “I wanted to bring people together,” says Breden. “I’ve always loved the culture of the community around coffee.”
That sense of welcome is central to what Breden hopes people feel when they enter the space. “I think it’s a space where anybody can walk in and really feel welcome and feel at home and at peace here,” says Breden.
The addition of a gallery only deepens that intention. Rehnberg sees it as a way to reach people who may not typically seek out art. “People come here for just coffee, and then they’re seeing art,” says Rehnberg. “Its like they’re getting exposed to art with a surprise factor.”
Both see Merge Modern as an important addition to the Westside, which has fewer consistent art venues compared to other parts of Albuquerque. “We’re meshing something from the Westside to greater Albuquerque,” says Rehnberg, noting that many of the artists involved are ones people might otherwise encounter downtown or at art walks.
The two share a belief that the space should feel entirely open and community centered. “Art should be for all,” says Rehnberg.
Through Merge Modern, the pair have created a place where art and daily life intersect. Whether someone visits for a latte, an exhibition, or a quiet moment in the afternoon, Merge Modern offers the chance to slow down and engage. It is a space shaped by passion, long experience and a shared belief that art should be accessible.
By blending the warmth of a coffee shop with the depth of a curated gallery, Merge Modern brings a fresh creative presence to Albuquerque’s West Side and invites the community to be part of its growth.
On The Verge
Merge Modern Art Gallery/Catalyst Coffee
6010 Coors Blvd. NW
Nov. 29, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026