sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Bryce Na帽ez grew up in southern New Mexico and had never attended the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 International Balloon Fiesta.

That is, until 2016, when he and his wife moved back to New Mexico.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really cool, iconic event,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was really fun seeing all the special shapes and seeing the colors as they filled up the sky.鈥�

Art aloft: 'Special Shapes' art show pays homage to 12 popular Balloon Fiesta favorites

Na帽ez lives in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, where he will wake up in the morning to see the hot air balloons flying in the sky year-round.

The artist decided to create a show called 鈥淪pecial Shapes,鈥� which pays homage to 12 of the special shapes that have flown at Balloon Fiesta.

鈥淚 always wanted to paint hot air balloons,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his year was the right time. I started to create the special shapes and found that with each one, there was a piece of happiness within.鈥�

Na帽ez painted 12 separate paintings and then one bigger canvas featuring a handful of balloons.

The exhibit will run through Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Lapis Room in Old Town 鈥� a little longer than the duration of Balloon Fiesta.

Though Na帽ez is now an sa国际传媒官网网页入口-based pop realism painter, he grew up in Las Cruces.

He officially entered the professional painting scene in 2014, showcasing his works in Austin, Texas, and sa国际传媒官网网页入口.

One of his most notable pieces is a 36x48-inch acrylic on canvas portrait titled 鈥淧acman,鈥� which was commissioned by the world champion Filipino boxer, Manny Pacquiao, in 2016.

Na帽ez paints nearly every day.

Prior to hitting the studio, he will wake up and watch the balloons fly over sa国际传媒官网网页入口 almost every day.

鈥淎s my son says, he wants to see the 鈥榗otton candy鈥� skies as they turn orange and red,鈥� he says.

Na帽ez has also welcomed his son into the studio throughout this process.

鈥淗e鈥檚 part of the process with me,鈥� he says with a laugh. 鈥淗e contributed a little bit to one of the paintings. I thought it was really cool that he wanted to do that. Painting is something that we can enjoy together.鈥�

Na帽ez has been working on the series since July and is excited for the community to see them on display in Old Town.

鈥淧eople come from all over the world to the Balloon Fiesta,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 hope the original works will capture people鈥檚 attention and give the opportunities to reflect on their own love for hot air balloons.鈥�

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Na帽ez is committed to making a positive impact in the community and donates services and artwork, annually, in support of local organizations and the people they serve.

鈥淓ach painting explores the playful spirit and surreal beauty of the festival, transforming the sky into a canvas of imagination and color,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hrough bold colors and dynamic compositions, these pieces invite viewers to remember the magic and wonder of this iconic event. With this series, collectors can bring this magic home, making the festival鈥檚 joy a part of their everyday lives.鈥�