GALLERY | FRIDAY, MARCH 7 | 5–9 PM | FREE
Opening Reception for "COMRADES" Exhibit by Jesse Littlebird and Friends
As part of the ABQ Artwalk
You’re invited to the opening reception of “COMRADES,” a new exhibit by Jesse Littlebird and friends on March 7 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at FUSION | 708. The opening reception is part of The Abuquerque Artwalk! “COMRADES” is a collaborative exhibition and an artistic celebration of Albuquerque’s creative spirit and cultural diversity, featuring the works of Jesse Littlebird, Ruben Cantu, and a total of eleven artists!
Through various mediums, from contemporary painting and sculpture to pop art and mixed-media, this exhibit highlights the creative bonds shared by the artists as they explore identity, place, and the rich cultural landscape of northern New Mexico.
The show captures the unity and diversity of Albuquerque’s vibrant art scene, celebrating the artists’ deep connections to their community and the broader Southwest. Each artist brings a distinct voice, with works reflecting themes of resilience, heritage, modernity, and transformation. Together, their collective energy resonates throughout the exhibition, showcasing the dynamic interplay between individual expression and shared cultural roots.
After the opening reception, this exhibit can be viewed during public FUSION events or by appointment through March 31! To schedule a visit email FUSION.
ARTIST BIOS
ABOUT JESSE LITTLEBIRD
Jesse Raine Littlebird (Laguna/Kewa Pueblos) Born 1992 in Santa Fe, New Mexico is an artist, painter, writer and film director. Expression through the medium of painting and film is a vital part of life for Jesse with his Indigenous heritage deeply rooted in the oral tradition culture of his Pueblo Indian lineage and growing up in a creative household of art, film and story.
Littlebird’s provocative paintings have garnished recognition in the Southwest art scene with several solo exhibitions and group shows during 2018-2024 and with several collectors commissioning his work nationally and globally.
Littlebird says this about his art, ”My work is inspired by teachings, prophecies, and stories that are commonplace among my people. It presents the viewer with a unification of Southwestern landscapes, Indigenous Cosmologies, and their historicization.
“My true allegiance lies solely in acknowledging the significance of my birth until my eventual passing. My work is a Detournement of various elements from Western and Indigenous thought and histories, provoking critical reflection and serving as a testament to the enduring spirit of indigenous cultural realities. The paintings serve as storytellers, capturing narratives that can be discovered by those who truly listen and engage with the artwork. Each piece is a field for intricately intertwined symbolic representations that draw direct inspiration from the timeless cultural traditions found within the lands my people have inhabited since long before the Settler Colonial and will exist long after its passing.”
He is a Sundance Institute Full Circle Fellow, and an Andy Warhol Foundation recipient. He works full time as an artist and resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
ABOUT RUBEN CANTU
Ruben Cantu is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Panama. His work fuses pop aesthetics with abstract expressionism, creating bold, high-energy compositions that defy traditional artistic boundaries.
Cantu works across a diverse range of mediums, including felt, fabric, wood, oil, acrylic, enamel, glass, and spray paint. His layered approach to color and texture results in visually striking pieces that explore themes of identity, culture, and movement.
Beyond his fine art practice, Cantu is also a fashion innovator, producing clothing that extends his artistic vision into wearable form. By merging contemporary art with street culture, he creates a dynamic visual language that is both experimental and deeply personal. Whether on canvas, fabric, or unconventional surfaces, Cantu’s work challenges and redefines the limits of artistic expression.
ABOUT MAX BAPTISTE
Born in Taos, New Mexico in 1982, Max Baptiste was raised in the small northern New Mexican village of San Cristobal. Deeply inspired by the natural landscapes and vibrant culture of his home state, Max creates art that reflects the world around him, primarily through minimalism on glass. Max is currently represented by Acosta Strong Fine Art on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, Kukani Gallery in Albuquerque and O Gallery in Hollywood California.
In addition to his work as an artist, Max has established a distinguished career as an art curator. From 2015 to 2020, he created and managed an arts nonprofit that worked with thousands of community members, showcasing the artwork of over 700 New Mexican artists. From 2018 to 2020, Max served as the lead art curator for the Albuquerque International Sunport, where his innovative lowrider exhibition earned the airport recognition as one of the top nine airports in the world for art. Most recently Max won a $1m contract to build the world's first lowrider airplane with Rob Vanderslice and install it as an art piece in the Sunport international airport. Max continues to curate and collaborate with other artists, helping them be successful in their careers.
Through his experience in building creator platforms and supporting artistic communities, Max remains dedicated to bridging local and global art scenes, making significant contributions to the cultural landscape of New Mexico and beyond.