PRESS RELEASE

July 28, 2026, Taos, NM

Taos Art Museum presents Taos Icons: Large Scale Portraits by Donald Graham

Taos Art Museum presents Taos Icons: Large-Scale Portraits by Donald Graham, an exhibition of photography on view in the Fechin Studio from September 12 to November 1, 2026.  An opening reception will be held Saturday, September 12, from 1-3 p.m.

An internationally-known portrait, fashion and fine art photographer, Graham has lived in Taos for more than twenty-five years. Taos Icons features a series of portraits taken in Taos, a place that is remembered equally for its stunning landscape and the spirited people who give it soul. 

For more than two decades, Graham has created portraits of men and women whose lives have become inseparable from the story of Taos. Taos Icons brings together a selection of these portraits, each printed at four by five feet, creating encounters that are both intimate and monumental.

Among the individuals featured are: Frankie Samora, Bobby Lujan, John Nichols, Jean Mayer, Michael Hearne, Nat Troy, and a Molybdenum miner. Their lives have shaped the character of Taos in profoundly different ways. Some are widely recognized; others less so. Together, they represent artists, visionaries, workers, and culture bearers who have contributed to the identity of this remarkable community.

Standing before these portraits is less like viewing a photograph than meeting another human being. Every line, every glance, every gesture speaks of lives marked by perseverance, creativity, humor, sacrifice, and wisdom.  

Taos has inspired artists for more than a century with its extraordinary landscape and legendary light. Taos Icons shifts the focus to people whose lives and contributions have shaped the community. Graham’s work is guided by the belief that every face tells a story and every person is one of a kind.

About Donald Graham

Donald Graham is an internationally acclaimed photographer whose work spans portraiture, fashion, and fine art. For more than four decades, he has created compelling photographs that explore the individuality, dignity, and shared humanity of his subjects. Whether photographing celebrated cultural figures or people encountered during his travels in more than sixty countries, Graham seeks moments of honesty that reveal the person beyond appearance. His acclaimed monograph One of a Kind (Hatje Cantz) embodies this vision, presenting portraits of renowned artists, musicians, and actors alongside anonymous individuals from around the world with equal dignity.

Graham's photographs are held in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Columbia University’s Avery Art Collection, the International Center of Photography in New York City, and the Harwood Museum, among others. He has also photographed for Vogue, Vanity Fair, Time, and Sports Illustrated.

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About Taos Art Museum:  Taos Art Museum includes the elegant historic home and studio designed and built by internationally-renowned artist Nicolai Fechin, between 1927 and 1933. The buildings stand as a testament to his extraordinary artistry and craftsmanship, featuring intricate hand-carved doors, woodwork, and furniture that seamlessly fuse Russian, Hispanic, Native American, and Art Deco styles. The Museum also includes the Janis and Roy Coffee Gallery, which presents exhibitions that celebrate the breadth and depth of Northern New Mexico’s artistic legacy. In addition to ongoing displays of work by Nicolai Fechin, the Museum offers special exhibitions of historical Northern New Mexican art and contemporary shows by artists working in the region today. Visitors can also explore the Museum’s beautiful gardens and browse the Museum Store featuring one-of-a-kind gifts handcrafted by talented local artisans.

Visitor Information: Taos Art Museum at Fechin House is located at 227 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, and is open? Tuesday - Sunday, 12:00 - 4:00 PM from November - March, and Tuesday - Sunday, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, from April - October. Admission is free for Taos Art Museum members, or $20 Adult, $15 Senior/Military, $10 Student, and free for Taos County residents every Sunday. There is no charge to visit the Fechin Studio or gardens. Tours are available upon request.

For more information, please call (575) 758-2690 or visit www.taosartmuseum.org.

Image Credit: Donald Graham, Frankie Samora, Photograph.

Photo courtesy of the artist.