Wild Plum Blossoms, Josh Elliott, oil, 13″ by 60″
What are your plans for June 5 and 6? If you’re lucky, you’ll be attending La Luz de Taos 2026, the Ninth Biennial Gala and Art Sale at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site in Taos, New Mexico.
The site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, includes the homes, studios, and gardens of Eanger Irving Couse and Joseph Henry Sharp, two men who had much in common. They were early 20th-century artists who were famous for their paintings of Native Americans, they were founding members of the Taos Society of Artists in 1915—and they were neighbors.
We’re sure they would be pleased with the preservation of their properties, which encompass more than two acres in Taos’ historic district. In 1908, Sharp purchased property that included an old adobe house and a family chapel that he converted into a studio. Six years later, he purchased land to the south of his house and built a larger studio there.
In 1909, Couse purchased his property, which was adjacent to Sharp’s and included a seven-room house. He added a large studio to the house, his wife, Virginia, carved a garden into the hillside, and his son Kibbey later converted the garage into a machine shop.
The site includes the 5,000-square-foot Lunder Research Center, which is dedicated to the early Taos art colony. The facility includes sketchbooks, original artworks, artifacts, a library, and documents collected by the 12 members of the Taos Society of Artists. The center is currently featuring the La Luz de Taos 2026 Exhibition, a collection of 71 works of art that will be on view until June 4.
Nightlife, Jocelyn Martinez, gouache, 9″ by 12″
During the gala, four of those pieces will be sold by secret-bid auction, and another 67 will be sold via ballot draw during the gala. Proceeds will benefit Couse-Sharp Historic Site programs and preservation. Participating artists include Bill Acheff, Howard Post, Ezra Tucker, John Coleman, Beth Wald, Chloe Marie Burk, Scott Yeager, Dean Mitchell, Billy Schenck, Tony Abeyta, Susan Folwell, and David A. Leffel.
An art preview and reception is set for 5 to 7 p.m. June 5 and will include a tour of the historic site, live music, wine and beer, and hors d’oeuvres. The following day, guests will be invited to a reception and panel discussion—What is Art of the West in 2026?—from 10 to 11 a.m. at the nearby Gallery at Hotel Willa. The gala and art sale will start at 5 p.m. that day at El Monte Sagrado Resort, just a few blocks away, and will include live music and dancing, along with complimentary beers and wine.
Ticket sales close May 8 or when reservations are full. Participant ballots are also available for the sale and auction. Visit www.laluzdetaos.org for more information.
