The Vibrant Santa Fe Spanish Market:
A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage

Chimayo Trading Staff Report | July 2025

The Traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is deeply rooted in the region’s Hispanic heritage, reflecting centuries of cultural and artistic traditions. Its history begins with the Spanish colonization of New Mexico in the late 16th century, when settlers brought with them artistic practices that evolved into distinct New Mexican forms. The market reflects the ingenuity of early Spanish settlers who, with limited resources like gold and silver, crafted art from materials that were readily available.

New Arrivals at Chimayo Trading Del Norte include a fabulous collection of Spanish Colonial Style Art. Please visit our gallery at the Historic Saint Francis Church Plaza in Ranchos de Taos NM or online at chimayotrading.com to bring the blessing of Spanish Style Colonial Art into your home.

Jim Wiley
New Mexico Spanish Colonial Valdez Chest Replica – 30” Height, 60.5” Width, 18” Depth

Artisans crafted religious and utilitarian objects—such as bultos (carved wooden saints), retablos (painted religious panels), tinwork, colcha embroidery and pottery, using local materials like wood, straw, tin and wool represent a unique art form developed in New Mexico, distinct from Spanish or Mexican traditions. These art forms often created for churches or homes, became the foundation of what is now known as Spanish Colonial art.

LEFT: Alcario Otero 1995
“Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe” – 26” x 12” 6.25”

RIGHT: Jacob Martinez 1995
“San José” 1995 – 25” 8” x 6.5”

LEFT: Early New Mexican Santo/Bulto – 34” x 14.5” x 8”
RIGHT: European Style Articulated Santo/Bulto, Mexico – 37.5” x 13.5” x 9”

The society organized exhibitions to showcase works by local Hispanic artists, many of whom were descendants of early Spanish settlers. The first official market, held in 1926, was a modest event but laid the groundwork for promoting these crafts as a vital part of New Mexico’s cultural identity.

LEFT: Spanish Colonial Retablo – 8” x 10”
RIGHT: Spanish Colonial Retablo on canvas – 10” x 8”

By the 1950s, the market had formalized into an annual event on the Santa Fe Plaza. The Spanish Colonial Arts Society introduced a juried process to ensure authenticity, requiring artists to adhere to traditional techniques and materials. This emphasis on heritage distinguished the market from other art fairs, focusing on historical continuity rather than commercial trends.

Isleta Pueblo Tinsmith
ca. 1890-1910
New Mexican Tinwork and Reverse Painted Glass – 30” x 26”

Today, the market features over 160 artists from New Mexico and southern Colorado, showcasing 19 categories of art, including woodworking, pottery, and weaving, alongside a youth market to nurture the next generation.

LEFT: Francis Graves
Spanish Colcha , ca. 1960s – 23″ x 24″
RIGHT: Spanish Colcha – 38” x 44” – SOLD

The market’s growth reflects its cultural and economic significance. It draws up to 70,000 visitors annually. Events like the Spanish Market Mass and processions at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi further tie the market to its religious and communal roots.

LEFT: Arlene Cisneros Sena 1995
“San José Patriarca” – 12.5” x 7.25” x .5”

RIGHT: Arlene Cisneros Sena 1997
“Santo Gertrudis” – 9” x 6” x .5”

Over nearly a century, the Spanish Market has evolved from a small preservation effort into a world-renowned celebration of New Mexico’s Spanish heritage, ensuring these art forms remain vibrant and relevant.

LEFT: Arlene Cisneros Sena 1998
“La Sagrada Familia” – 15” x 9.25” x .5”

Arthur Lopez 2014
“Nuestra Señora De Loreto” 2014 – 22″ x 6 x 4”

LEFT: Patrociño Barela,
Wood Sculpture – 17” x 6”

RIGHT: Patrociño Barela
Wood Sculpture – 16” x 5”

Jacob Martinez 1997
“Flight Into Egypt” , Wood Sculpture – 14.5” x 18” x 7”

LEFT: 20th Century New Mexico Tinwork Frame, 19th Century Mexican Painting on Tin
23” x 15”
RIGHT: 20th Century New Mexico Tinwork Frame, 19th Century Mexican Painting on Tin
24” x 18”

Eulogio Ortega, 1982
“Carreta de la Muerte”, – 10.5” x 12” x 8”

“San Isidro”, Early 20th Century New Mexican Wood Carving – 24” x 9” x 22”

“Saint Joseph”, 19th Century Mexican Painting on Tin – 12” x 10”

Horacio Valdez, 1975
“Cristo” – 32” x 18” x 7”

If you have enjoyed our newsletters and learning about the artists and artwork we represent, or if you’ve had a good experience visiting our gallery, please take a moment to let us know by leaving a review using the links below.

Come to the gallery to see where History Meets Art in Taos..

#1 Saint Francis Church Plaza
Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

575.758.0504

We buy individual pieces or whole collections.

Contact us for the evaluation and resale of your collectible art.
We’re interested in locating relevant collections and original New Mexico artwork for purchase. We buy historic and contemporary relevant paintings, pottery, jewelry, textiles, weavings and more.

Contact us directly to discuss and evaluate your collection. If you’re an artist, contact us about the possibility of selling your art on consignment or direct wholesale purchase.

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