From an early age, Natalia Martinez knew she wanted to pursue a career that would employ her love for art and contribute to local and global communities. After Martinez discovered her passion to become a contemporary art curator, she decided to pursue a degree in art history and museum conservation at New Mexico State University.
“Later on in my college career, I was lucky to have access to NMSU’s phenomenal Museum Conservation program, led by Silvia Marinas-Feliner,” Martinez said. “She inspired me to think critically about preserving art for the sake of valuing material heritage and history. I believe curators can be an active force in creating a diverse, inclusive and innovative future for the art world.”
To further explore her aspiration, Martinez met with William B. Conroy Honors College Dean Phame Camarena. They discussed the potential of hosting an art exhibition inside the William B. Conroy Honors Center.
“From there, I was given the creative freedom to independently design, manage and curate an exhibition that benefits Crimson Scholars and honors students,” she said. “It was my idea to create a program for the Honors College that values students for their academic excellence and creative talents as a collective, which led me to the name of the ‘Honors Art Collective.’”
As the collective’s curator, Martinez formulated a concept for the exhibition. She started by encouraging students from different departments at NMSU to submit their personal artwork.
“As I received submissions, I actively met with each participant to learn about their artistic style and think about how their art would fit into my goals for the Honors Art Collective and of the Honors College,” she said. “Each of my selections were made based on a student’s portrayal of artistic passion as well as their level of innovation and contextual engagement.”
Tracey Miller-Tomlinson, the Honors College director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, said Martinez developed the concept as a welcoming space for honors students to present their visual arts, regardless of their experience.
“Turning the historic Conroy Honors Center building, the oldest on campus, into a flash art gallery required skilled planning, collaboration and an enormous amount of energy and determination,” Miller-Tomlinson said.
The Honors Art Collective opened April 14 with around 300 attendees. Martinez received 89 submissions from students and out of the artwork she selected, approximately 90% of those students were pursuing degrees unrelative to art.
“A crucial element of this exhibition was to display the artwork of various student classifications and degree paths,” Martinez said. “My hope is that the NMSU community sees the artistic potential of these students. The level of engagement given by NMSU students, staff and faculty continues to exceed my expectations. The amount of support I received is a testament to the exhibition’s success. I feel lucky to have received this opportunity, to have worked with an incredible student exhibition team and with extraordinary artists.”
Miller-Tomlinson said the result was a success because it showcased a range of artistic approaches and perspectives.
“In launching the Honors Art Collective, Natalia brought the work of new student artists to a wide audience and enabled all of us to see the world through their eyes,” she said. “We look forward to the exhibit continuing for many years to come as a complement to the extraordinary culture of the arts on the NMSU campus.”
Martinez graduated in May 2023 and is currently applying to graduate schools that have art history and curatorial programs.
The Honors Art Collective remains open for public viewing during the center’s hours of operation. For more information, visit https://honors.nmsu.edu/curca1/honors-art-collective.html.