Love, Art, and Nine Butterflies—Santa Fe Couple’s New Gallery Celebrates Local Artists

Sometimes you meet people, and you just click. This was the case with my friend Stuart Handelsman, who I met in my pre-real estate life while I was managing an interior design firm, and he owned a textile/design company. We’ve been friends ever since.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, I’m sure you’ve figured out that there are few things I love more than telling stories about how Santa Fe has set the perfect stage for new relationships, new beginnings, and new ventures. This post has it all.

When fate brings two New Jersey natives together in The City Different, magic happens. Just ask Stuart and his husband Hank Catenacci, the duo behind The Nine Muses, one of the city’s newest art galleries and one that’s breathing fresh life into our vibrant art scene.

Jersey Boys
Stuart and Hank’s story as a couple began with a party and a thoughtful friend named Doris. Stuart, fresh from living in Toronto and newly returned to Santa Fe, was hosting a gathering when Doris asked if she could bring along a friend – Hank, an artist who had lost his husband of 22 years. Though both men were born just 20 miles apart in New Jersey, their paths had never crossed until that evening. “It took about a year and a half for us to move in together,” Hank recalls, his New Jersey accent still intact despite years away from the Garden State.

The couple, together since 2015, were married during the height of the pandemic in their rose garden. Today they live in the Arroyo Hondo – an 86-acre parcel located southeast of town, within the Sebastian de Vargas Land Grant, which they love for being “rustic, rural, but very close to the heart of Santa Fe.”

Now, the happily married couple has embarked on their latest venture: The Nine Muses gallery. The gallery’s name has its own origin story. Hank, an accomplished artist who has been creating since the age of three, was painting Stuart’s portrait when the idea came to him. “I was working on a painting of Stuart standing under a tree on a cliff with nine butterflies flying around him,” Hank recalls. “We realized ‘Nine Muses’ would be a great name for a gallery.”

A Gallery is Born
As an artist, Hank’s background is nothing short of remarkable. Despite losing sight in his left eye at age two, he has spent his artistic life working across multiple mediums — from graphite and charcoal to his current passion for oil painting using the Flemish Method. Hank creates hauntingly surreal pieces that showcase incredible technical precision. His work has graced galleries across New York City, New Jersey, San Antonio, and now, Santa Fe.

With a business background and 35 years connection to the Santa Fe community, Stuart conceived of the gallery as an opportunity to not only showcase Hank’s work but also support local artists. “I’d say we’re eclectic and the atmosphere is very welcoming,” Stuart explains. “I’m purchasing a lot of the art from the artists, not just on consignment. We’re merchandising the Nine Muses to help people get a sense of how the art will look in their own homes.”

Located steps from Santa Fe’s historic Plaza on Don Gaspar, the gallery opened its doors during Indian Market weekend this past August after a gut renovation of the space, formerly home to “Spirit of the Earth.” The Nine Muses showcases original art, fine art prints, folk art, glass, ceramics, photography, and jewelry. Price points range from $100 for hand-blown glass flowers to $50,000 original paintings.

Local Roots / International Appeal
In a city filled with art galleries, what sets The Nine Muses apart is its commitment to the community. Opting out of public wine and cheese openings, Stuart and Hank turned gatherings at their gallery into fundraising opportunities. A recent December event raised $10,000 for the Envision Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation. “We’re definitely emphasizing fundraising events for important charities, including the local gay community,” Stuart says. “The gay community has definitely supported us as well.”

The gallery maintains strong local roots, with over 80% of featured artists coming from the area(and) its prime location attracts an international clientele. “The majority of clients so far have been visitors, because of the location” Stuart notes. Since its inception Nine Muses has drawn art lovers from across the Southwest, both coasts, and as far away as Asia.

This month the couple is mixing business with pleasure in Italy, where Hank will paint while Stuart scouts new treasures for the gallery. It’s the latest chapter in their ongoing adventure.

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