The New Mexico Watercolor Society (NMWS) Fall/Winter 2026 Juried Exhibition is being held at the Doña Ana Arts Council Gallery from January 2 - February 27, 2026. The Exhibit, entitled “Transitions & Transformations” features art from 34 artists who are members of NMWS statewide.
Artists throughout history have used their art to depict—and inspire us to see and feel—dramatic changes of their time. In our current times, we are surrounded by changes that often bring about transitions and sometimes dramatic transformations
to ourselves and our communities, environment, cities and countryside, as well as to our social and political lives. For this exhibit, NMWS artists were challenged to boldly interpret a variety of the transitional and transformational subject matters
that have affected them deeply. The exhibit includes 48 paintings with a wide range of styles and subject matter that will engage the viewer in thinking about transitions and transformations in their own lives.
The juror selecting paintings to be included in this exhibit was Janet Rogers, a professional artist for more than 45 years who holds signature status in the American Watercolor Society (AWS), Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA), and the Florida Watercolor Society (FWS) and has won numerous awards for her sensitive paintings of people and flowers. Her career has included exhibitions with the Florida Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society, and at Walt Disney World, Winter Park, Kanuga, Springmaid, and other venues. She also teaches numerous art workshops both nationally and internationally.
The judge selecting awards placement for this exhibit was Karen Conley, President of Artforms Artists Association of New Mexico. Karen Conley is a multi-media artist living in southern New Mexico, president of ArtForms, and a frequent volunteer in the Mesilla Valley art community.
The New Mexico Watercolor Society was founded in 1969 and has more than 300 members statewide, including more than 100 members in southern New Mexico. The Southern Chapter of the NMWS, founded in 2001, provides many services to its members and the local community. Monthly meetings are held September through May, the second Sunday of the month, at 2 pm in the Las Cruces Village activity room.
Meetings provide an opportunity to network with fellow artists, view watercolor demonstrations, and visit with guest artists. The meetings are free and open to the public. The organization also sponsors workshops, juried and non- juried exhibitions, paint-outs, and a library of watercolor DVD’. The NMWS-SC supports a student awards program to encourage young artists to explore painting with water media such as watercolor, gouache, egg tempura, casein, watercolor pencils and crayons, water-soluble pigmented inks and fluid acrylics. The Southern Chapter serves southern counties of NM and the El Paso, TX area. Learn more about the NMWS and the Southern Chapter at http://nmwatercolorsociety.org