Hernan Gomez Chavez
City of Santa Fe Department of Arts & Culture
Santa Fe,NM
8
years of professional experience
Arts administrator, project manager, educator, and sculptor with over ten years of experience leading projects across contemporary art, public art, higher education, and government. Experienced managing exhibitions, public art commissions, fabrication, contracts, and collaborative initiatives while working with artists, curators, museums, nonprofit organizations, collectors, and municipal agencies throughout the United States and Mexico. Recognized for combining technical expertise, administrative leadership, and community engagement to support cultural institutions and deliver complex creative projects.
Work History
Studio Director & Artist
5 Years 3 Months- Direct an independent sculpture and public art studio producing large-scale sculpture, exhibitions, and commissioned projects.
- Managed studio operations, overseeing budgeting, contracts, scheduling, fabrication, logistics, and client communications to ensure project success.
- Coordinated artwork transportation, installation, and deinstallation for museums, galleries, public agencies, and private clients, ensuring timely and safe delivery.
- Developed grant proposals, commission applications, and exhibition opportunities, securing funding and visibility for artistic projects.
- Collaborated with architects, contractors, curators, collectors, fabricators, and municipal partners throughout project development and completion.
Audit Technician I
1 Year 1 Month- Audit contractor payment requests by reviewing engineering plans, Daily Work Reports, Electronic Source Books, and supporting documentation.
- Interpret construction drawings and specifications to verify completed work in accordance with NMDOT Standard Specifications for Highway and Bridge Construction.
- Process and track payments using AP Construction Software, SHARE Financials, and Microsoft Excel.
- Communicated with project offices, consultants, and contractors to resolve discrepancies, ensuring adherence to project schedules.
- Reviewed consultant augmentation invoices for compliance with contracts and accuracy in billing, facilitating timely payments.
- Managed documentation and financial reviews for multiple active infrastructure projects, maintaining organization and oversight.
Artist Assistant
11 Months- Assisted internationally recognized sculptor Tom Joyce in the fabrication and production of two large-scale sculptural works.
- Supported fabrication, finishing, artwork handling, installation preparation, and studio operations.
Art Commissioner
1 Year 7 Months- Review public art proposals and artist qualifications.
- Collaborate with artists, city officials, and community stakeholders.
- Support decisions regarding public investment in cultural infrastructure.
- Review and select artists for public art grant funding.
- Develop processes to ensure effective artist relations with the City of Santa Fe Department of Arts and Culture.
- Assist in selection of artists for yearly Mayor's Art Awards.
- Advocated for cultural policy improvements at city council meetings, influencing decision-making processes.
Adjunct Instructor, Sculpture & Fabrication
2 Years 7 Months- Teach undergraduate sculpture and fabrication courses.
- Instruct students in welding, metalworking, and sculptural processes.
- Mentored students through research, fabrication, critique, and exhibition preparation, guiding them to successfully present their work.
- Use CANVAS grading software to enter grades on a weekly basis.
Welding Instructor
2 Years- Designed and delivered welding and metal fabrication courses to enhance student skills.
- Instructed students in MIG welding, fabrication techniques, and shop safety to ensure competency.
- Guided artists and community members through hands-on technical instruction to foster creativity.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Welding Technologies
Master of Fine Arts - coursework completed
Bachelor of Arts - Art Studio, Minor in Management
Erasmus Exchange Program - Sculpture
Skills
Arts Administration: Exhibition coordination
artwork handling
public art administration
grant writing
project management
community engagement
Technical: art installation
budgeting
contract administration
welding/metal fabrication
building and residential construction.
Software: Microsoft Office
Microsoft Excel
Adobe Photoshop
AP Construction Software
SHARE Financials
Project Management: Focus on client relationship by measuring and exceeding scope of work on time and within budget
Budget Management
Artist Relations: Community Engagement
Grant Writing & Fundraising
Contract Administration
Public Speaking
Bilingual Communication.
Critical and creative thinking
Adaptability and flexibility
Languages
English (Native Speaker)
Spanish (Fluent)
Honors & Awards
HONORS & AWARDS
- Mayor's Excellence in Art Award (2024)
- Art is the Solution Grant (2024)
- 12 New Mexico Artists to Know Now (2023)
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network Recognition (2022)
- Fulcrum Fund (Andy Warhol Foundation) (2019)
- New Artist Society Scholarship (2016)
ARTS LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
City of Santa Fe Department of Arts & Culture
Art Commissioner (2025–2026)
Traditional Marketing Impact Grant Committee Member(2023–2024)
Public Art Call Committee Member (2023)
- Evaluated grant applications, public art proposals, and artist qualifications.
- Collaborated with artists, architects, city staff, and community stakeholders.
- Contributed to funding and artist selection decisions supporting Santa Fe's cultural initiatives.City of Santa Fe Department of Arts & Culture
- Art Commissioner (2025–2026)
- Traditional Marketing Impact Grant Committee Member (2023–2024)
- Public Art Call Committee Member (2023)
- Selected to evaluate public art commissions and arts funding initiatives, collaborating with artists, civic leaders, and community stakeholders to support Santa Fe's cultural ecosystem.
TEACHING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community Arts Facilitator from 2021-2025 (Pete's Place | Santa Fe, NM)
- Designed and led grant-funded art workshops for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Curated Wednesdays at Pete's, a public exhibition featuring participant artwork.
- Built partnerships with nonprofit organizations and community members to expand access to arts education.
Selected Residencies
- Sculpture Space, Utica, NY (2024)
- The Steel Yard, Providence, RI (2024)
- Arquetopia, Puebla, Mexico (2023)
- Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, NM
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
- Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez
- El Paso Museum of Art
- Hyde Park Art Center
- 516 ARTS
- Vital Spaces (Solo)
- Plus Gallery
- OTA Contemporary
- El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe
Timeline
Audit Technician I
New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT)
07.2025 - CurrentRead More
Art Commissioner
City of Santa Fe Department of Arts & Culture
01.2025 - CurrentRead More
Adjunct Instructor, Sculpture & Fabrication
Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)
10.2023 - 05.2026Read More
Studio Director & Artist
Hernan Gomez Chavez Studio
05.2021 - CurrentRead More
Welding Instructor
MAKE Santa Fe
01.2021 - 01.2023Read More
Artist Assistant
Tom Joyce Studio
05.2018 - 04.2019Read More
Santa Fe Community College
Associate of Applied Science from Welding Technologies
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School of The Art Institute of Chicago
Master of Fine Arts from coursework completed
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University of New Mexico
Bachelor of Arts from Art Studio, Minor in Management
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Academy of Arts, Architecture And Design, Prague
Erasmus Exchange Program from Sculpture
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