NMDCA News: 

The New Mexico History Museum presents “Mother Road: Route 66 in New Mexico,” an exhibition at the Governor’s Gallery inside the New Mexico State Capitol.

In July 2025, the History Museum hosted an open call for artists to design and paint a mural in the museum’s lobby commemorating the centennial founding of Route 66. Five artists from nearly two hundred submissions were invited to create concept artwork for the mural. In the exhibition, “Mother Road: Route 66 in New Mexico,” large-scale mural mock-up designs created by the five finalists will be on display at the Governor’s Gallery.

The designs interpret Route 66’s cultural and historical importance through each artist’s creative and contemporary lens. Artists include Gabriel Eng-Goetz, Michael Ferrarell, Brianna Gardocki, KEY DETAIL, and Molly Mendenhall. The exhibition will be on display Jan. 12 – April 4, 2026, at the Roundhouse.

For New Mexico, Route 66 brought both opportunity and upheaval, and the historic road connected remote communities, stimulated business growth, and introduced the state’s unique blend of cultures to the world. This exhibition celebrates not only the legacy of the highway, but also the landscapes, communities, artists, and travelers whose stories helped define New Mexico’s identity.

This exhibition is presented in conjunction with a newly commissioned mural in the lobby of the New Mexico History Museum, “Mother Road Coming into Color,” painted by Molly Mendenhall and on display through 2026.