A prominent Denver art gallery has opened its doors on one of Santa Fe's most famous art destinations, bringing contemporary and conceptual artwork to Canyon Road. K Contemporary, owned by Doug Kacena, recently launched its second location at 203 Canyon Road in a spectacular 4,000-square-foot space that the gallery owner describes as his "dream gallery."
Kacena's journey to Santa Fe represents a significant expansion for the gallery, which originally opened in an 1880s Denver building in 2017. The contrast between his original location and the new Santa Fe space couldn't be more dramatic. "I had to drill holes in the floor just to have power" in Denver, Kacena said, laughing about the challenges of his first gallery. The Canyon Road location, however, offered everything he had been seeking: "It's an uber-contemporary space, and it's spectacular. It's got its own parking lot, it's got an outdoor space, it's got data everywhere and it's even got overhead tracks for projectors."
The timing of this expansion reflects Kacena's long-held ambition to establish a presence in Santa Fe's thriving art market. He had previously considered opening a pop-up gallery in the city's Railyard district in spring 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic derailed those plans. "The universe was saying, 'Maybe not now,'" he reflected. When the Canyon Road opportunity arose in August, requiring minimal renovation work after recent updates, Kacena moved quickly. "I opened the doors as fast as I could," he said, emphasizing that very little work was needed on the space.
K Contemporary's expansion strategy stems from Kacena's recognition that he needed to grow beyond Denver's market. "My No. 1 goal has always been to be a platform for regional artists on the national stage and to bring international contemporary artists here," he explained. The gallery has successfully achieved this by participating in art fairs in New York, Los Angeles, and other major cities, with an impressive 70% of sales occurring outside Colorado. However, Kacena expects the dynamics to be different in Santa Fe, which he views as much more of an art destination than Denver.
The gallery's current exhibition, titled "As of Now," showcases work from artists representing diverse geographical regions including the Caribbean, Latin America, London, New York, Santa Fe, and Denver. Gallery director Ylise Kessler oversees the presentation of mixed-medium pieces and polyurethane sculptures that emphasize contemporary and conceptual art with rich historical context. "What we've got right now is a summary of some of the artists we represent in Denver," Kacena noted. "Right now, it's kind of like a 'best of,' a preview of what we do as a gallery."
Kacena's approach to art promotion extends far beyond traditional gallery exhibitions. Known for aggressive marketing tactics, he has previously rented billboard trucks featuring 9-foot-by-18-foot reproductions of artwork, driving them around Denver during the pandemic to provide "chance encounters with artwork during what was a pretty stressful situation." His creative promotional stunts have included musicians playing in roaming pedicabs and projecting video of performance artists onto building sides in Denver.
"I like doing those things that keep people a little bit off guard about art," Kacena explained, emphasizing his commitment to accessibility. The gallery prides itself on being "incredibly accessible," acknowledging that many people feel intimidated when visiting an art gallery for the first time. One of Kacena's favorite activities is conversing with first-time visitors at his Denver location, an experience he anticipates having frequently at the Santa Fe gallery.
Despite opening his first gallery at age 23, Kacena approaches the Santa Fe market with both excitement and caution. He plans to spend half his time in Santa Fe for the foreseeable future to closely monitor the new venture's progress. "I think I'm doing the right thing," he said with nervous laughter. "We've had such a great reaction already, but this is something that feels like a big leap of faith for me at a time when the art market is not at its strongest."
The gallery owner expresses genuine interest in becoming an integral part of Santa Fe's established art community rather than attempting to dictate changes. "I always feel like there should be synergy in a town between the galleries and the institutions," he said. "I'm always wondering, 'How do we make a bigger presence for the local art scene?' I just hope to participate in it in a way that feels meaningful. I really do believe a rising tide lifts all boats."
K Contemporary Santa Fe operates Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday. The gallery can be contacted at 505-416-5902 or through their website at kcontemporaryart.com. Early feedback suggests that the gallery is already finding its niche in Santa Fe's competitive art market, offering something distinctly different from what visitors typically encounter on Canyon Road.
