Alyce Frank: 
Capturing the Spirit
of the Southwest

Chimayo Trading Staff Report | September 2025

Chimayo Trading has just received new arrivals from the creator of Taos Expressionism Alyce Frank. We’re always honored to have her work shown in our gallery, keeping her memory and her contribution to the Taos arts alive and well. Come to our gallery in Ranchos de Taos or online at chimayotrading.com to see these new arrivals.

Alyce Frank, a luminary of Taos Expressionism, left an indelible mark on the art world with her vibrant, soulful landscapes of the American Southwest. Born in 1932 in New Iberia, Louisiana, Frank’s journey to becoming a celebrated painter was as dynamic as the canyons and mountains she portrayed. She passed away in January 2024 at 91, but her legacy endures in the bold strokes and vivid hues of her work.

“Apple Orchard In Embudo”
Oil on canvas
36” x 40”
$7,500

Frank’s early years were marked by intellectual curiosity and movement. After her family settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she enrolled at the University of Chicago at just 15, earning a liberal arts degree by 1950. Graduate studies at UCLA and USC followed, where she met and married Larry Frank, a filmmaker with a passion for cultural artifacts. Together, they raised three children—Ross, Melissa, and Chad—while collaborating on educational films. In 1962, a spontaneous decision to purchase a 19th-century adobe morada in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, changed everything. The rugged beauty of Taos captivated Frank, igniting her artistic calling.

“View From The Padre Martinez House”
Oil on canvas
30” x 40”
$6,800

In 1973, Frank began painting seriously, studying under Ray Vinella and forming bonds with Barbara Zaring and also the “Taos Six,” a group of artists including Walt Gonske and Robert Daughters. Her style, which she called Taos Expressionism, prioritized the raw power of landscapes over transient effects like light or weather.

“Willows In The Stream In Talpa”
Oil on canvas
30” x 24”
$4,500

Her large-scale oil paintings depict Taos Mountain, Dixon’s orchards, and the dramatic gorges of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Alyce’s works are celebrated for their emotional depth and vivid realism, earning spots in collections like the Harwood Museum of Art.

“It’s Snowing”
Oil on canvas
24” x 20”
$3,500

Frank’s process was as bold as her art. She roamed the Southwest in a paint-splattered Mercury station wagon, using its tailgate as an easel and rigging an umbrella for shade. Her dedication to capturing the land’s essence was relentless, often painting en plein air to translate the region’s spirit directly onto canvas. Her 1999 book, The Magical Realism of Alyce Frank, cemented her reputation, with her works fetching up to $27,500 at auction.

“Pueblo Shield”
Oil on canvas
16” x 12”
$1,800

Beyond her art, Frank was a lifelong learner, attending workshops even in her later years. Her influence persists in Taos’s vibrant art community, where her paintings continue to evoke the timeless beauty of the Southwest. Alyce Frank didn’t just paint landscapes—she gave them a voice.

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

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Contact us for the evaluation and resale of your collectible art.
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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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