Famous Creatives Associated with Northern New Mexico
By ERMW Team
Thurs October 26, 2023
As Colfax County’s creative community expands with New Mexico’s thriving creative economy, we thought we’d take the time to remember some famous creatives that played roles in New Mexico’s rich history.
D.H. Lawrence - A famous English writer who lived in New Mexico for a while and drew inspiration from the landscape. Lawrence's opinions and artistic preferences earned him a controversial reputation; he endured contemporary persecution and public misrepresentation of his creative work throughout his life, much of which he spent in a voluntary exile that he described as a "savage enough pilgrimage".
Georgia O'Keeffe - A renowned American artist known for her paintings of New Mexico landscapes. Called the "Mother of American modernism", O'Keeffe gained international recognition for her meticulous paintings of natural forms, particularly flowers and desert-inspired landscapes, which were often drawn from and related to places and environments in which she lived.
Petro Vlahos - Born in Raton, New Mexico, Petro Vlahos became an American engineer and inventor and is considered to be one of the pioneering scientific and technical innovators of the motion picture and television industries. He is remembered in particular for creating the Ultimatte process, which refined the color process known as chroma keying (i.e. "bluescreening"). In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded multiple Oscars, as well as an Emmy Award.
Tom W. Blackburn - Thomas Wakefield Blackburn was an American author, screenwriter and lyricist. His work included various Western novels and television screenplays, as well as the lyrics to "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" (his first) and other songs. He was born in Raton, New Mexico in 1913.
Maria Martinez - A renowned Pueblo potter who greatly influenced the Native American pottery tradition. Martinez received honorary doctorates during her lifetime from the University of Colorado and the University of New Mexico. Her portrait was created by Malvina Hoffman, a notable American sculptor. In 2022, Martinez was included in a book on Women's Work, noting the change from feminine arts to feminist art, by Ferren Gipson.
Ansel Adams - A renowned photographer, known for his iconic black and white landscapes, including some taken in New Mexico. While in New Mexico for a project, Adams photographed a scene of the Moon rising above a modest village with snow-covered mountains in the background, under a dominating black sky. The photograph is one of his most famous and is named Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico.
Pete Alvarado - Born in Raton, New Mexico, Pete Alvarado was an American animation and comic book artist. Alvarado's animation career spanned almost 60 years. He was also a prolific contributor to Western Publishing's line of comic books.
Tony Hillerman - A popular author known for his detective novels set in the Southwestern United States, including New Mexico. Several of his works have been adapted as theatrical and television movies.
John Ray Sinnock - Born in Raton, New Mexico, John Sinnock was the eighth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1925 to 1947. Sinnock was the designer of the Roosevelt dime and Franklin half dollar, among other U.S. coins. His initials can be found at the base of the Roosevelt and Franklin busts. He also sculpted, although did not design, the second (and current) form of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart medal, the Yangtze Service Medal, and various other medals and commemorative coins.
Judy Chicago - A feminist artist known for her groundbreaking installation artwork, including "The Dinner Party." Her inclusion in hundreds of publications in various areas of the world showcases her influence in the worldwide art community.
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