The Taos Society of Portrait Artists (TSoPA) is a group of representational portrait artists from Taos, New Mexico and the surrounding area. This organization is dedicated to sharing an awareness of this historical and contemporary art form. The members of the TSoPA have been selected for their outstanding portrait work in oil, watercolor, acrylic and other traditional media. The objective of the Society in developing and increasing awareness and appreciation of regionally created portraiture is furthered through various shows, both local and afield, and through public discussions and demonstrations by member artists.

The group carries forward the tradition of classical portrait painting. The art of portraiture is a time honored one and is considered by artists of all disciplines to be among the most technically demanding.

At one time, portraits were commissioned solely by the elite of society. In modern times, portraiture is accessible to everyone and portraits have been commissioned by people from all walks of life to commemorate all types of occasions including birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, and major achievements as well as a to create a lasting record of family history. The painted portrait is still considered a more important record for posterity than modern technical media because of its archival nature and the portrait artists ability to capture the essence of the subject.

Please contact a member of the Taos Society of Portrait Artists to create a lasting image of someone important in your life. For information about the Society, please contact Seamus Berkeley, 505.770.0737.