Range Change and Art*o*matNM Gives Back 2025

Announcing New Art*o*Mat Location:

Range Cafe Wyoming Blvd NE

The only constant is change. The Range Cafe On Central is closing and the building has sold so the “Black Bart” pinstriped Art*o*mat machine has moved to The Range Cafe at 4401 Wyoming Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Open daily for breakfast/brunch/lunch until 3pm. Come by and say hi to Andres and the staff and pick up a piece of original artwork for $5.00.

Art*o*matNM Gives Back 2025

Warm Holiday Wishes from ArtOmatNM. In lieu of paying rent to my NM venues I make an annual donation to their favorite charities to show my appreciation for allowing Art*o*mat to thrive in their spaces. 

In 2025 we gave $800 to worthy causes like Meals on Wheels New Mexico, Felines and Friends, the Balloon Museum Foundation, Esperanza Shelter, and the Española Animal Humane Shelter. Art*o*mat loves to support good works as well as good works of art! Happy holidays, everyone, and thank you for another year of allowing me to offer art accessible to everyone in northern New Mexico.

Art*o*mat® Gives Back: 2024 Edition

Art*o*matNM gives back to the community of Santa Fe and northern New Mexico each year. Each venue that co-hosts an Art*o*mat® machine receives an annual donation to the charity of their choice. In addition, this year we are excited to announce a sponsorship with the Santa Fe Artists's Medical Fund. This fund helps northern NM artists with paying medical bills and any professional artist can apply for grants of up to $2,500 annually. Art*o*matNM has sponsored the full amount of a grant for one artist to receive funds for medical expenses. The organization is having its annual art show and auction on December 8th and we are not only sponsoring the event but also helping to organize it this year. Local artists have created 6x6" square paintings and small-scale sculptures for the silent auction -and we all know that small works of art can create BIG CHANGE in people's lives. This organization is right up our alley! For event deets click on the link above and go to "events."

Pins Pins PINS!

I had enamel pins made of my bright orange "Dia de Los MATos" Art*o*mat® machine! I was imagining what I could do to capture the hearts of customers who love the machines themselves and are perhaps more excited by them rather than the gamble of buying the art inside them. Since I don't have any reatail space of my own (all my machines are in venues like restaurants and museums) Clark Whittington, owner of the entire Art*o*mat® program, gave me permission to showcase my machines as art themselves -in pin form. The pins are $5.00, just like any other Art*o*mat® art, and they are available in all EIGHT of my machines in northern New Mexico! This pin features the orange sugar skull machine designed by artist Kim Diloretto. The machine resides in the Range Cafe in Los Lunas, NM. Can't make it to NM? Contact me to find out how you can have one shipped to you.

Announcing New Art*o*mat Location: Range Cafe in Los Lunas, NM

Range Cafe in Los Lunas is the newest venue for Art*o*mat®

As rich and delicious as the red and green New Mexican chile they serve, the news that the Range Cafe in Los Lunas, NM will be home to my orange sugar skull Art*o*mat® machine, really satisfies!

The machine I lovingly call "Dias de Los MATos" (because of its bright Day of the Dead design) used to call the lobby of Meow Wolf Santa Fe home but the pandemic and all of its fun put a stop to that. I will always cherish the memories we made in there in the wacky multiverse.

But looking forward into the future and the possibility of "KERPLUNKING CULTURE" for folks who haven't yet experienced the awesome gift of accessible art made by humans marketing their passions, really gets my Art*o*mat®-Hosting juices flowing. I think Range Cafe customers will really enjoy the uniquely New Mexico aesthetic of this machine, the joy and value of the art it will vend to them, and be inspired themselves. 

Los Lunas is approximately 24 miles (29 minutes) south of Albuquerque, NM. The machine is located near the bar.

Range Cafe in Los Lunas
740 Main St NE
Los Lunas, NM 87031
Open Daily 7am - 9pm

"Dias de Los MATos" Art*o*mat®

Machine (not so) Temporarily Removed From Meow Wolf

 I don't need to tell you how unprecedented these times are when everyone and everything seems to be affected by the pandemic. My Art*o*mat® business is not immune. While most of my venues in Albuquerque and Santa Fe have been open and shut various times through the months (and now remain open with precautions in place), Meow Wolf has finally reopened after a full year of closure.

They do not, however, feel that having an art vending machine on their premises is safe at this time. I don't quite understand why it can't be safely used with a regular wiping-down, but alas, the decision is not up to me and Meow Wolf has made the call. I removed the bright orange sugar skull-adorned machine that I lovingly call "Dias de Los MATos" and it is currently residing at my home until it can safely return to its most popular venue.

In the meantime, the "Art*o*mat® Cat" (pictured above) is on guard, keeping an eye on it. If you visit Meow Wolf in the near future please ask about the Art*o*mat® and let them know you want it back soon!

UPDATE: The machine was permanently removed from Meow Wolf Santa Fe in March 2021.

Enjoy the Little Things: Art*o*mat® is Alive and Well and Waiting for YOU to Ker-Plunk...

 As news changes so quickly these days in pandemic-land, it's been hard for me to guesstimate when any sense of normalcy will return to everyone's lives. Here in New Mexico we've been pretty safe, and I'm glad to report that there are more and more business openings happening. High-touch-factor places like Meow Wolf are still not allowed to open but I have 7 out of 8 Art*o*mat® machines ready and waiting for YOU to visit.

Come to the following venues, be prepared to socially distance, wear a mask if they require it for entry, and get rid of those pesky FIVE and ONE DOLLAR BILLS 'cuz everyone is getting all heebie-jeebie about cash these days anyway. KER-PLUNK your way to a bit of cigarette-box-sized art enjoyment and support artists at the same time!

As they say in the 2009 classic zombie-smashing flick Zombieland, Rule #32 of Zombie Survival: Enjoy the little things... 

So I just had to show n' tell this awesome Zombie Sam L. Jackson painting by Artist in Cellophane Patrick Harris. It is from my personal collection (not for sale) but I thought it would fit perfectly with the zombie apocalypse vibe I got going on in my feelz today. 

Open and Ready for your patronage right now:
(please check with each venue for up-to-date hours and restrictions)

Art*o*mat® in Albuquerque:

1. Balloon Museum ~ Fear not. Balloons will fly this October (but you're not allowed to hang out in large groups to watch this time). The museum and Gift Shoppe are open and strict social distancing rules are in place. The whole place is a nonprofit and they don't charge sales tax for gift shoppe items so drop by and show some support while you ker-plunk the "Up and Away" balloon-themed Art*o*mat®.

Open 9-5 Wednesday through Sunday
9201 Balloon Museum Drive, Albuquerque

2. Range Cafe, Central Ave. ~ Blink and you could've missed it, but the Standard Diner is now a Range Cafe. The widely popular chain by co-owner Matt DiGregory is unstoppable and he's taken advantage of the pandemic to do some remodeling and has plans for more growth on that block (live music, grab and go food). They even created a special featured nook, fitted with electrical outlet, just for Art*o*mat® to live.

Don't worry if you were gaga for Standard's bacon-wrapped meatloaf. It and several other winners are still on the menu at that Range Cafe location.

Open daily for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.
320 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque

3. Range Cafe, Rio Grande Blvd. ~ Still open and still going strong. Plenty of parking even though they acquisitioned some of the parking lot for an outdoor seating area.

Open daily for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.
1050 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque

4. Range Cafe, Bernalillo ~ Still open and still going strong. Plenty of parking even though they acquisitioned some of the parking lot in back (including the handicapped spaces) for an outdoor seating area.

Open daily for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.
925 Camino Del Pueblo, Bernalillo

Art*o*mat® in Santa Fe:

1. Inn of the Governors ~ The good folks at this downtown hotel didn't take a break all pandemic long and have definitely gotten creative with their outdoor parking lot-turned-dining-area for Del Charro Saloon. The Art*o*mat® machine is still in the lobby so visit and grab a green chile cheeseburger too.

Open daily, Del Charro open for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out until 10 pm.

101 W. Alameda Street, Santa Fe

2. El Centro De Santa Fe Gallery Mall ~ Some galleries in the mall have since closed/relocated since the pandemic but it's not a total ghost town. The turquoise Art*o*mat® stands strong in the hallway, ready for ker-plunking, so please visit and wave to the hardy gallery folk neighbors who are making the best of their situations.

Open Daily until 5 pm, Sundays until 4 pm.

102 E. Water Street, Santa Fe

3. Caffe Greco ~ Since they have a great patio on Canyon Road, these folks have been able to keep on keeping on through the waxing and waning of art-loving tourists coming to town.

Open Wednesday through Sunday until 5 pm for outdoor and limited indoor dining, take out.

233 Canyon Road, Santa Fe

Art*o*mat® Gives Back

Did you know that when you buy original art from my Art*o*mat® machines in northern New Mexico that you're helping give back to great local causes? You can feel extra good when you KER-PLUNK!

Part of the lure to get venues to allow Art*o*mat® to "live" in their space is that I give an annual donation, in their honor, to their favorite charities. I've been doing this since I hosted my first machine.

Here are some of the local nonprofit agencies that have received donations from your Friendly Neighborhood Art*o*mat® Host:

• Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation
• ARTsmart New Mexico
• Chimera
• Espanola Humane
• Special Olympics New Mexico

And one more thing: Since social media is the bestest way to reach the most people these days, Art*o*mat® is much more active and up to date on Instagram than the blog. Find us and follow: @ARToMatNM

New Art*o*mat® Brochure for 2019

Santa Fe Art*o*mat® side

Albuquerque/Bernalillo Art*o*mat® side

I've got a new brochure for 2019! 

It has all EIGHT Art*o*mat® machines featured with one side for Santa Fe and one side for the Albuquerque area. Many thanks to Alex Hanna of Invisible City Designs for his creative eye and his never-ending patience (with me). You can find them in Brochure Distribution locations (restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, etc.) all over Santa Fe and next to all of my Art*o*mat® machines.

Santa Fe cover

Albuquerque/Bernalillo cover

8th Art*o*mat® in NM Installed! At Range Cafe on Rio Grande in Albuquerque

Art*o*mat® Installed at Range Cafe on Rio Grande in ABQ

Today is the day! We finally got our EIGHTH Art*o*mat® machine installed in northern New Mexico! This gorgeous graffiti-ed vintage National brand cigarette machine has been placed near the foyer inside The Range Cafe On Rio Grande at 1050 Rio Grande Blvd NW in Albuquerque.

Come on down to the Range Cafe On Rio Grande, have a bite (don't forget dessert), and be sure to visit the newest Art*o*mat® while you're there. A noted graffiti artist that goes by the name Hieronymus is responsible for the striking paint job on this machine. And you'll find great original works of art by Art*o*mat®'s "Artists In Cellophane" inside it -for only $5! Open daily 7am-9pm. For other Art*o*mat® locations in northern NM click here.
Special thank yous to Louis Correll, Laird Brown, Corky Brown, and the Range's Constance Banuelos. I appreciate you all so much!

Range Cafe manager Constance Banuelos buys the first piece of art!

Louis and Laird helped move it. Thanks!

Placing Art*o*mat® in the restaurant

Like all Range Cafes there's plenty of art to see.

1050 Rio Grande Blvd NW Albuquerque, NM

Art*o*mat® Installed at Albuquerque Balloon Museum

The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation has millions of visitors through its doors for Albuquerque's famous Balloon Fiesta and now they've got one more. And "she'll" be staying a while!

Meet the newest member of my ArtomatNM family, this gorgeous 20-column vintage cigarette machine-turned-art-vending-machine painted by North Carolina artist Jennifer O'Kelly. Beautiful hot air balloons festoon the front, sides, and backside of the machine against a backdrop of Albuquerque's skyline complete with Sandia Peak.

Hot air balloon themed Art*o*mat painted by Jennifer O'Kelly -just in time for ABQ Balloon Fiesta Oct. 6-14, 2018

I can't believe today is finally here! Installation Day at a dream venue!

Delivering the new Art*o*mat® to the ABQ Balloon Museum with help from Corky Brown and Louis Correll

Executive Director Jill Lane meets us at the door

Louis and I move the Art*o*mat® to its new home in the gift shoppe

Executive Director Jill Lane tries out Art*o*mat®

Madison Block, the Museum Foundation's Communications Manager, helps show how beautiful the Art*o*mat® is from the back. Artist Jennifer O'Kelly made a special effort to make it attractive from all angles.

Art*o*mat® is at home in the Balloon Museum Gift Shoppe. "She" looks as if it's been there all along!

You can visit this Art*o*mat® every day except Monday at the Balloon Museum's Gift Shoppe:
9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
505-880-0500
Open Tues-Sun 9 am to 5 pm

Museum admission is FREE from 9 am to 1 pm on Sundays.

New Art*o*mat® Machine Update

Hieronymus has created a masterpiece!

Greetings Art*o*mat Friends and Fans!

I have some lovely news to share: This Art*o*mat® by painter, Hieronymus, is finished and on its way to New Mexico! Hieronymus (Hiero) is a graffiti artist and this is his interpretation of Art*o*mat® -what a colorful result! I cannot wait to see it in person. It will be installed in Albuquerque at the Range Cafe (Rio Grande location) at 1050 Rio Grande Blvd. NW soon. Stay tuned for details.

Art*o*mat® in progress: painter Jennifer O'Kelley has captured ABQ's Sandia Peak in the background of this hot air balloon themed machine to be installed in the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.

Also, painter Jennifer O'Kelly is hard at work on the 20 column Art*o*mat® that will be installed in the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum in a few months' time. I'm really excited about how very Albuquerque this machine is going to be. You can already see the outline in the background of Sandia Peak -the mountain that frames the city and gives it its very special hot air ballooning phenomenon, The Albuquerque Box.


And finally, ArtOMatNM now has its own local Facebook and Instagram in addition to artomat.org's national pages. Get social and share some pics, ideas, likes, bleeps, bloops, and interwebz stuff with me!

Coming in 2018: My Art*o*mat Family Grows by 2

This 20 column cigarette machine from the 60's will soon become an Art*o*mat®

Greetings and Happy Spring Art*o*mat® fans and friends!
I have exciting news to share:  In 2018 I will have two more "members" added to my "Family" of Art*o*mat® machines here in northern New Mexico. I am pleased to report that Albuquerque will be home to both of these machines: one will go to the Range Cafe (Rio Grande Blvd.) restaurant and the other (pictured above) will go to the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.

Installation dates for the new machines are undetermined but they will be here in time for Balloon Fiesta (October 6-14). Artist Jennifer O'Kelly has begun work on the Art*o*mat® for the Balloon Museum and it will be covered with her whimsical hot air balloon paintings.

The Art*o*mat® for the Range Cafe Rio Grande Blvd. location has been worked on by painter Hieronymus and he's created an amazing-looking Art*o*mat® in his graffiti style.

Until then... Art*o*mat® is seeking NEW ARTISTS. If you or someone you know is interested in creating art for these repurposed cigarette-machine-turned-mini-art-galleries please visit the Artists' Submission Page at artomat.org and learn how you can market your art by becoming an Art*o*mat® artist.

Happy New Year From Your Local Art*o*mat® Host

Dear Fans and Friends,

Wishing you a Happy New Year and a great 2018!

I've taken a few pieces from my latest shipment of Art*o*mat® art from Artists in Cellophane and a few from my permanent collection and arranged them in a 2018 sign on my flagstone porch in the gorgeous New Mexico winter sunshine. What better way to ring in the new year! Thanks to all the artists** who make such wonderful works of pocket-sized art.

I am really looking forward 2018. I've been enjoying success and buzz from my 6 machines in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, and Albuquerque since I began this crazy journey here in 2013 and though I can't reveal any details yet I can say that there are some exciting new developments coming this year on the Art*o*mat® front in New Mexico. Stay tuned for announcements....

Until then: be safe, be happy, and most of all, "Don't Go 'Round Artless!"

-Victoria 

**Artists in Cellophane works shown (in no particular order):
Clark Whittington, Chad Beroth, Jeny Callender, Justin Vasey, Jeannie Massey, Dior Brown, Debbie Lewis, J. Elder Art, Andy Brzeczek, Marie Kensic, Emily Long, Harold Garrison, Jody Lewis, Paula Griffin, Debbie Page Harris, Dennis Wells, Nell Whitlock, Colleen Woodward, Beatriz Portela, Paige Matlock

They Featured My Brochure in This Cool Article

Why the Art-o-mat Vending Machine Is My Kind of Art Gallery by Lisa Tate

How thrilled was I to wake up today and find this cool article by an "Artist in Cellophane" (that's the name for all of the Art*o*mat® artists throughout the world)? Let's say really really thrilled. The El Paso artist, Lisa Tate, wrote the article, Why the Art-o-mat Vending Machine Is My Kind of Art Gallery, for GeekDad.com.

She writes about becoming an "Artist in Cellophane" and about how excited she was to find out that her art was sold in the machine inside the famous Meow Wolf right here in Santa Fe. I can't help but be excited that she used MY Art*o*mat® brochure as a backdrop for a photo displaying her collection of artwork she purchased. See her "nose cone" art below that can be and have been available in all 6 of my machines. Thank you so much, Lisa!

Lisa Tate's paintings of vintage nose cone art -you know, the kind painted on fighter planes in WWII to intimidate and strike fear into the heart of the enemy! Paintings on wood blocks.

Happy Birthday to Art*o*mat®! 20 Years Old!

Congratulations to Art*o*mat® for an awesome 20 years! Check out the retrospective at secca.org!

Art*o*mat® artists come from near and far to the Swap Meet Saturday June 10 at SECCA in Winston-Salem, NC.

If you know all about Art*o*mat® or are just learning about these amazing self-contained art galleries made from vintage cigarette machines you'll be excited to know that this year marks 20 whole years from the beginning of the awesome program with a nugget of an idea from even more awesome artist, creator, and owner, Clark Whittington. 

HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, ART*O*MAT®!!!

The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is having a 20 year retrospective show all about Clark and his masterful creations. The show will feature many of the first, flashiest, and funkiest Art*o*mat® machines and artwork including limited editions. There will be a special Swap Meet with original Art*o*mat® artists' work on June 10th. The public is welcome to come look and (of course) buy ...and that's great news if you happen to be in North Carolina this weekend. I'll be too busy here in Santa Fe with this weekend's fundraisers my other job, ARTsmart New Mexico, is holding: "Behind the Woman in Gold" Featuring Peter Altmann at the Lensic Performing Arts Center on June 8th and ARTsmart's Edible Art Tour on June 9-10. Lots of great stuff going on this weekend for lots of really cool and positive things -and that's good to hear these days! I wish everyone a great weekend, I wish the happiest of birthday's to Art*o*mat®, and I want to thank all of you fans and friends for supporting Art*o*mat® here in Santa Fe. Congratulations, Clark!

Meow Wolf reopens! Art*o*mat's placement, new stuff!

This Art*o*mat®, "Dias de los MATos," is placed prominently near the new exit doors.

View of Art*o*mat® in the newly expanded gift shop/bar/cafe area.

New tables and chairs in Meow Wolf's bar/cafe area.

Panorama view of Meow Wolf's bar/cafe and newly expanded gift shop

Meow Wolf has reopened after their 2 week hiatus. The Meow Wolfers have worked tirelessly to expand the gift shop and bar/cafe area as well as make some great new changes to the House of Eternal Return.  I haven't gone into the depths of the exhibit to see for myself yet but here is a list of some of the changes we can all look forward to:
1. Selig House Formations
2. The Light Organ
3. The Infinity Spa
4. The Laundry Room Vortex
5. Saloon Closet Zoetrope
6. Crystal Grotto
7. Beam Space Balcony
8. Glitch Beach LED Panel
9. The Techno Room
10. Phosphor Booth
11. The Wilderness

The Infinity Spa "the spa you never leave" new at Meow Wolf