Las Cruces, NM – The University Art Museum (UAM) is delighted to announce the opening of
CRUCES: New Acquisitions from the NMSU Permanent Art Collection, an exhibition highlighting recent
donations and acquisitions to the NMSU Permanent Art Collection. The exhibition will open on
Thursday, June 5th at 5:30 pm in the University Art Museum, and will be open until August 20th, 2025.
CRUCES presents a vibrant selection of recent acquisitions to the New Mexico State University
Permanent Art Collection, showcasing works added to the collection since 2018. This exhibition brings
together an eclectic range of media—including photography, sculpture, video, and even piñata paper and
raw earth pigments—highlighting the diversity of the collecting practices and introducing contemporary
artistic practice of artists from New Mexico and beyond. Many of the featured artists—such as Justin
Favela, Jay Lynn Gomez, Paula Wilson, Rose B. Simpson, and Judy Chicago—create work deeply rooted
in personal and broader cultural histories and traditions.
The exhibition also proudly showcases select NMSU student artwork acquired during the annual Juried
Student Show through the Mary Lawbaugh Purchase Award and the UAM Purchase Award, supported by
the NMSU Foundation. These acquisitions recognize outstanding creative achievement by NMSU
students and reinforce UAM’s commitment to nurturing emerging artists and integrating their work into
NMSU’s Permanent Art Collection.
In conjunction with the opening of CRUCES, the University Art Museum will also host the 10th Annual
Feminist Border Arts Film and Zine Festival, a celebration of storytelling, feminist filmmaking, and
creativity. The festival will take place Friday, June 6, through Saturday, June 7, 2025, and will feature
curated film screenings, a pop-up zine fair, and talks from guest artists, activists, and filmmakers whose
work explores identity, resistance, and social change. A full schedule of films and events will be released
soon. More information can be found at fba.nmsu.edu.
Join us for the opening reception on June 5 from 5:30-7:30 PM. For more information on UAM
exhibitions and programs, visit www.uam.nmsu.edu. The UAM is located at 1308 E. University Avenue,
Las Cruces, NM, and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM.
KVLC 101 Gold- 101.1 FM- Classic Hits