Eli Levin, founder of Tuesday Night Drawing in 1969, honored with the prestigious 2026 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
Awards Ceremony:
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
5 p.m.
St. Francis Auditorium
Santa Fe, NM
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham honors eight arts luminaries for the 2026 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts in her final year of office. The recipients represent the unique and rich artistic heritage of the state.
"Every year I am astounded by the talent and passion that recipients infuse into our state’s cultural fabric," Lujan Grisham said. "This year’s awards culminate with eight honorees from across the state who truly represent what it means to embody the arts in New Mexico."
The Governor, New Mexico Arts, and the New Mexico Arts Commission are proud to recognize these awardees who represent artistic achievement and dedication.
Eli Levin
(a.k.a. Jo Basiste)
Painter, Dixon
Unable to cross the Rockies on his small motorbike, Eli came into Santa Fe in 1964 and met members of the old art colony, so decided to stay. He is known for his bar scenes and strong social commentary after the leftist artists of the 1930s. He has run a drawing group since 1969 that continues to this day, and he co-founded the Santa Fe Etching Club in 1981. He still paints every day.
Other Recipients:
Adrián Aguirre, Visual Artist, Las Cruces
Delbert Anderson (Diné), Musician, Kirtland
Bill Barrett, Sculptor, Santa Fe
Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum Director, Albuquerque
Anne Hillerman, Author, Los Cerrillos
Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe
Sam Scott, Painter, Santa Fe
New Mexico Arts, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, and the New Mexico Arts Commission will host events in October recognizing this year’s Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts recipients.
Awards Ceremony:
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
5 p.m.
St. Francis Auditorium of the New Mexico Museum of Art building.
The ceremony will be followed by a public reception in the courtyard with light refreshments and a sparkling cider toast.
An exhibition of work from the 2026 recipients will be on display in the Governor’s Gallery on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse Capitol Building beginning Thursday, Oct. 15 with an opening reception from 2 – 3:30 p.m. on that day.