Miguel martinez artist biography

By Bonnie Gangelhoff

Russian Girl, oil, 30 x 40.

Nestled on a rolling mesa between the Rio Grande River Gorge and the western foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the breathtaking landscapes of Taos, NM, have lured artists for decades.

But among the many who paint the magical light and lush panoramas, few have the intimate tie to the area that Miguel Martinez does.

Not only was the painter born and raised near the centuries-old Taos Plaza, but his family roots reach deep into Taos soil—at least three generations back.

And although change has come to the once-sleepy art colony, Martinez says there’s comfort in knowing that some things about his world have remained virtually untouched since his Spanish ancestors first arrived on horseback in the 18th century.

“The crispness of the landscape, the colors, the shadows and light on adobe walls—these are all still the same,” he says.

Susquehana, oil pastel, 23 x 29.

Through the immense windows of his studio Mart