News

Baker paintings chosen for numerous  publications in 2018 and 2019

Martha Rea Baker is on the cover of the COLLECTOR’S GUIDE to the Art of New Mexico! A detail of her painting, Dordogne Revisited III was chosen for the Winter 2019/2020 issue.

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The original painting

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Dordogne Revisited III      30″ x 30″       Acrylic on Canvas

MARTHA REA BAKER in ENCAUSTIC ARTS MAGAZINE

An article about the work of Martha Rea Baker has been published in the Winter 2014 Encaustic Arts Magazine. View the magazine here.  http://joom.ag/8JDX

Encaustic Arts -- Winter 2014

Encaustic Arts — Winter 2014

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May 23rd – Martha Rea Baker, Bret Price, Kevin Tolman

In the Abstract

Martha Rea Baker, Kevin Tolman, Bret Price
May 23 through June 7, 2014

Text Box: Who: Martha Rea Baker, Kevin Tolman paintings and Bret Price sculpture What: Exhibition of paintings and sculpture When: May 23 through June 7, 2014 Opening Reception: Friday, May 23 5-7 pm. Where: Karan Ruhlen Gallery, 225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Visuals & Curriculum Vitae online at karankaranruhlen.com SANTA FE, NM.   Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists with a degree of independence. Abstraction indicates a departure from reality in depiction of imagery in art.

Karan Ruhlen Gallery features the work of three well-established artists to kick off the 2014 art season. The exhibition features New Mexico abstract painters, Martha Rea Baker and Kevin Tolman and California sculptor Bret Price. The group of artists is diverse in their approach to abstraction.

Santa Fean, Martha Rea Baker’s paintings deal with the concept of “time”, the passage of time and its effects on our natural world. Whether depicting chronological time, marking the sequential passage of hours, days, seasons or an ancient age glimpsed through excavation, the painting process of adding, subtracting and thoughtful editing is a metaphor for life’s timeline.

Albuquerque artist Kevin Tolman continues to produce inspiring, epic and intimate works. Some appear to be amplified organic forms, while others are cadenced arrangements of linear and geometric shapes.. He builds rich mixed-media abstractions with gestural layers of vibrant acrylic that he applies scratching, scraping and drawing along the way. Tolman’s abstract imagery creates a tension between the illusion of spatial depth and surface paint that is utterly compelling

California artist Bret Price builds heating chambers around large pieces of steel, applying intense heat to manipulate metal to create a sense of softness in his sculpture. The variables of intense heat, size and shape of the raw material produce a wide range of results with a degree of unpredictability. The show will feature his recent series composed of bands of stainless steel joined together in unexpected ways. The shaped rings and bands are welded together to form elegant abstractions in brilliant colors.
“The gallery will be truly transformed with the energy of these three well established artists,” says Ruhlen.

EXCAVATED PASSAGES:
The Encaustics of Martha Rea Baker and Mary Long-Postal
July 22- August 4, 2011
Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
 
Martha is busy working on this upcoming exhibit opening in late July in Santa Fe. This two-person exhibit will contrast the encaustics of Karan Ruhlen’s two hot wax artists in an exciting show. These artists each work in encaustic in different ways and as gallery owner, Karna Ruhlen states, “The encaustic paintings of  Baker and Postal compliment each other in very interesting ways”.
Stay tuned for updates on this exhibit—-
 
 
Karan Ruhlen Gallery will present annual RED show in February
 Traditionally, the Karan Ruhlen Gallery exhibits red paintings for the month of February in a variety of styles.  Please join Tim, Joseph and the gallery artists for an opening reception on Friday, February 11 from 4-6 pm. Let the warmth of the color red brighten these cold winter days and nights!

Canyon Textures III——12″ x 24″——Encaustic

Holiday Group Show at Karan Ruhlen Gallery in Santa Fe, NM
Martha will be part of a holiday group show opening on  December 17th with a Holiday Open House at the Karan Ruhlen Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, NM. If you are in Santa Fe for the holidays, please stop by the gallery to view Martha’s small works from the Canyon Walls Series.
 
 

 

Tranquility I—-12″ x 12″

Tranquility II—-12″ x 12″

 

 Large-scale Abstract Acrylics shipped to Brown’s Fine Art
Collectors of  Martha Rea Baker at Brown’s Fine Art in Jackson, MS have requested large abstracts paintings in soft, light tones. Martha has recently sent three new works to the gallery.

A Delicate Balance—60″ x 48″—Acrylic—SOLD

  
 
POLLINATION EXHIBIT ENDS AUGUST 20!!!
  
Last chance to see this wonderful exhibition of wax paintings  at the Santa Fe Community Gallery. If you are in and around Santa Fe through August 20, stop by for a treat. Rod Lambert, Gallery Director states, “…the public loves this exhibit and LOTS of people have learned about a new visual art form.”
 
 Pollination Exhibit at the Community Gallery at the Santa Fe Convention Center–
June 25-August 20
 

Vanishing Point——–24″ x 24″———Encaustic—-Sold

 
 
Martha Rea Baker is one of 23 encaustic artists whose work was accepted  into the upcoming exhibit,  Pollination, at the Santa Fe Commission for the Arts Community Gallery. She will exhibit an encaustic painting, 24″ x 24″ entitled “Vanishing Point”. The exhibit will open with an artist reception on Friday, June 25, 5-7 pm. The purpose of the exhibit is to raise awareness  for the plight of the honeybees and the collapse of the bee colonies. Encaustic artists will partner with the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens and to explain this ongoing problem. There will be three mini encaustic workshops at the Community Gallery during the exhibit. Please contact Rod Lambert, gallery director,  for  schedules.  
 

 Karan Ruhlen Gallery—-Exposure II, June 25th-July 18th

Martha Rea Baker will be one of  five featured abstract artists in the second Exposure exhibit at Karan Ruhlen Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, June 25 – July 18, 2010. The exhibit will open with a reception on June 25, 5-7 pm with the artists present. Gallery owner, Karan Ruhlen states, “I’ve scoured the Internet for the past six months looking for abstract art and in my opinion found five of the best artists.” Martha is honored to be part of this select group.
 

Canyon Walls Series–Duet–Encaustic –12″ x 24″–SOLD

 
The Encaustic Art Institute
 
The Encaustic Art Institute (EAI), a non-profit organization, was founded by encaustic artist and builder, Douglas Mehrens. it opened its doors to the public in 2009. Located on 12 acres of land near the historic villages of Cerrillos and Madrid, New Mexico, the EAI is just 18 miles south of Santa Fe, a major art market. It features 24oo square feet of exhibition space, offers encaustic workshops and has memberships available for any artist working with encaustic. Plans call for  the Institute to add a library, establish a permanent collection and offer artists’ residences. For a list of upcoming events, please visit the EAI blog at  www.eainm.blogspot.com .
 
“Art from the Heart” opens at the Encaustic Art Institute of New Mexico
 
On Saturday, February 13,  from 1-6 P.M., the Encaustic Art Institute will open the show, “Art from the Heart”. The work of over 30 EAI member encaustic artists will be shown. The Encaustic Art Institute is a non-profit organization established for the purpose of promoting encaustic art. Please visit the website at www.eainm.com  for a  schedule of events and information on becoming a member. 
 
Martha will have two pieces in the show from her recent  Alchemy Series, being shown for the first time.
 

Alchemy VII———Purity——–24″ x 36″

 

Alchemy XI—– A Fine Line—–18″ x 6″—–Sold

  
  
“Stocking Stuffer”  Holiday Sale

Santa Fe’s best artists will offer the “value of the season” with original work priced under $200. The show will run from Thanksgiving weekend through January 9 at the Community Gallery at 201 West Marcy Street, located in the Convention Center. Gallery hours: 10-6, Tuesday-Saturday. All work will be original and one-of-a kind. What a great opportunity to give affordable hand crafted items for the holidays!

Martha’s small plein air abstract landscapes, painted on the banks of the Rio Chama, will be framed 7″ x 7″.

Mountain-View-300

Mountain View 6″ x 6″

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009 Exhibitions:       

Thermal Dynamics, July 3 – July 27, 2009     

Martha’s  encaustics were shown with New Mexico Wax, newly formed statewide encaustic group, at the  Arts Alliance Gallery, (NE corner of Lomas and San Mateo) 1100 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite #10 in Albuquerque for the month of July. Visiters had a unique opportunity to see an exciting and diverse collection of works created with beeswax.

 Gallery Hours:   Monday, Wednesday, Friday—9-5

                                Tuesday, Thursday—–11-5

                                 Saturday-10-5   

Martha Rea Baker’s work was juried into two exhibitions in Santa Fe. Zane Bennett Contemporary hosted the inaugural exhibition of New Mexico Wax, the newly formed statewide encaustic group, March 20-May 2, 2009. Her two new encaustic paintings, “Chaco Diptych” and “Infinite and Eternal” were chosen by the gallery curators for the exhibit titled, “Waning and Waxing-the Resurgence of Encaustic”.

New Mexico Wax at Zane Bennett Cntemporarty

In addition, her monotype, “The Boating Party II”, was chosen for the exhibit What Seeds have Borne: Current Monotypes from Local Artists, a juried exhibition of new prints featuring the work of artists in New Mexico who are maintaining the tradition of the Monothon. This exhibition was held April 28-May 22 at the Santa Fe Arts Commission Community Gallery in the newly opened Santa Fe Convention Center.

Martha’s paternal grandmother, Myrtle Harris Rea is second from the right.

The-Boating-Party-II

The Boating Party II