Log In


Reset Password
Visual Arts

Sorrel Sky is expanding where?

Art gallery is taking the rare step of opening 2nd venue out of state

The power of suggestion can be an effective motivational tool.

For years, Sorrel Sky Gallery owner Shanan Campbell Wells has been asked, “Do you have a gallery in Santa Fe?” Until this year, the answer has been “no,” as Wells’ Main Avenue gallery has thrived since it opened in 2002.

But all that’s about to change, as Sorrel Sky Santa Fe will open for business later this spring on the prominent West Palace Avenue in New Mexico’s capital.

“I’ve been in the art business for my entire life,” she said. “Naturally, having a gallery in an art town like Santa Fe has been a goal of mine. Sorrel Sky has been in business for 12 years, and now it’s time for the next step.”

With more than 250 galleries and three separate art districts, Santa Fe is one of the United States’ top-five art destinations. It attracts art collectors from around the world and has been home to many of the nation’s most prominent artists. Sorrel Sky’s new location will be between the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Art, just off the historic Plaza. The space was formerly The Elaine Horwitch Gallery and LewAllen Contemporary. With two stories and 6,300 square feet, Sorrel Sky’s new location is perfectly poised to make a big impact on Santa Fe.

“You couldn’t ask for a better space in downtown Santa Fe,” Wells said.

She and her team are creating a “fresh” approach to Western art – something she feels is an untouched niche in Santa Fe. While the Santa Fe location will not be as eclectic as its Durango counterpart, it will have a familiar feel. Wells will bring a number of her current artists to Sorrel Sky Santa Fe’s developing repertoire, keeping the gallery’s concise theme in mind. Among those sharing space in Durango and Santa Fe will be Star Liana York, Tom Palmore and Ben Nighthorse, among others.

Sorrel Sky Durango represents 70 fine artists and jewelers. In 2013, Sorrel Sky launched a new e-commerce website – something virtually unheard of for an art gallery – that allows clients to shop from anywhere in the world. Wells has also been actively involved in creating the First Thursday Art Walks, which will enter its third summer this year.

The new location is scheduled to open in late May.

ted@durangoherald.com



Reader Comments