William P. Henderson: A Painter's Journey

William Penhallow Henderson (1877-1943) brought a singular artistic voice to the American Southwest. After rigorous training at the Massachusetts Normal Art School and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, followed by formative years studying in Europe, Henderson developed a style characterized by high-keyed color, emotive intensity, and a decorative spatial sensibility rooted in Post-Impressionism. 

His arrival in Santa Fe in 1916, alongside his wife, poet and editor Alice Corbin, marked the beginning of his most iconic work. Profoundly moved by the region's Indigenous and Hispanic communities, Henderson created pastels and oils that captured the spiritual and visual resonance of the Southwest. These works, the heart of the exhibition, reveal his ability to blend modernist experimentation with a deep respect for local culture.

Though painting remained at the core of his practice, Henderson was an artistic polymath who also created murals, handcrafted furniture, stage designs, and innovative architectural projects. His wide-ranging abilities reflect a lifelong commitment to exploring art in numerous forms.

William Penhallow Henderson: A Painter's Journey highlights the enduring legacy of an artist whose bold palette and visionary approach helped shape the identity of Southwestern art. This exhibition invites viewers to experience the vibrancy, depth, and cultural richness that define Henderson's most celebrated works.