Michael Kessler, Aspen Gold, 2025. Courtesy photo
ART News:
A bold new chapter in Santa Fe’s world-renowned art district has begun with the opening of the Tim Church Gallery at 403 Canyon Road, in collaboration with the long-established Canyon Road Contemporary.
The gallery is dedicated to the work and select curated artists of Tim Church, a multidisciplinary artist whose innovative practice blends science, chemistry, and design into a singular visual language.
Known for pioneering a process he calls “Vibrant Toning”, Church’s work is shaped by forces beyond the artist’s control — temperature, gravity, humidity, oxygen, chemicals, salts, copper, and time. The result is art that cannot be replicated, where every piece becomes a collaboration with nature itself.
The gallery also now features the work of acclaimed abstract painter Michael Kessler, whose five-decade career has been defined by compositions drawn from lifelong immersion in the natural world.
“The colors, the textures, the geometry — they all reconfigure in the studio,” Kessler explains. “Abstraction gives me the freedom to create not as a camera would, but as a human being.” Like Church, Kessler uses nature not as subject alone but as inspiration, material, and guide.
The gallery’s first exhibition, held last month, was a resounding success. Collectors and community members filled the space, experiencing Church’s new home, and affirming the gallery’s place in the evolving story of Santa Fe as a global arts destination. The opening reception marked not only the launch of a new gallery but also the start of an exciting partnership with Canyon Road Contemporary, which has represented leading contemporary voices on Canyon Road for more than 35 years.
“Santa Fe has always been a place where tradition and innovation meet,” said the Canyon Road Contemporary team. “The vision behind the Tim Church Gallery embodies that spirit — rooted in nature, yet unafraid to chart bold new directions in contemporary art.”
With its successful debut, the gallery is poised to become a destination for collectors and art lovers seeking fresh perspectives on contemporary abstraction. As Canyon Road continues to evolve, the addition of the Tim Church Gallery ensures that Santa Fe remains at the forefront of artistic innovation.
Tim Church Gallery is now open to the public and welcomes visitors to experience contemporary works shaped by both artistic vision and the elements of nature.
Gallery Information
- Address: 403 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 to 4 p.m.
- Phone: 225.405.8959
- Website: www.timchurchartgallery.com