w e a r e p l e as e d to p r e m i e r e t h e a rt o f
g r e g m ay e r santa fe • new mexico
At first glance, Greg Mayer’s work appears to be striking blackand-white portraiture. Step closer, and the illusion transforms. Each monumental image is constructed from thousands of recycled LEGOs and building blocks, with Mayer hand-painting only their top surfaces. As viewers move around the work, flashes of hidden color emerge, inviting them to look beyond first impressions. Living with color blindness has deeply influenced both Mayer’s artistic vision and his understanding of humanity. Like the colors concealed within his portraits, he believes a person’s story, resilience, heritage, and identity can only be understood by looking beyond assumptions and stereotypes. Mayer’s exploration of Indigenous portraiture began while living in central Mexico, where he became increasingly aware of the limited representation of darker-skinned Indigenous people in contemporary art and advertising. He began creating portraits that celebrate communities too often overlooked, later expanding his work to include Indigenous cultures of the American Southwest. Raised in a family immersed in the arts, Mayer studied at the Academy of Art, Arizona State University, and Instituto Allende. Today, he works between Scottsdale, Arizona, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Drawing inspiration from people, historical photographs, magazines, music, and everyday encounters, his portraits are not depictions of single individuals but layered reflections of shared humanity—reminding viewers that perspective matters and there is always more beneath the surface.
M a n i to u G a l l e r i e s i s p l e as e d to p r e m i e r e t h e a r t o f
g r e g m ay e r W o r ks w i l l b e o n d i s p l ay d u r i n g o u r I n d i a n M a r k e t O p e n H o u s e at M a n i to u G a l l e r i e s , A u g u s t 13, 2026
Santa Fe • New Mexico 123 Palace Avenue • 505.986.0440 • www.manitougalleries.com
d e ta i l
Wayfarer
52" x 52"
Hand built with approximately 25,500 LEGO/building blocks
d e ta i l
Aura
62" x 62"
Hand built with approximately 37,000 LEGO/building blocks
d e ta i l
White Lines
50.5" x 92.5"
Hand built with approximately 46,000 LEGO/building blocks
Seen in Circles
54" x 41"
Hand built with approximately 21,000 LEGO/building blocks
Blown Away 32" x 42" Hand built with approximately 12,500 LEGO/building blocks
Santa Fe • New Mexico 123 Palace Avenue • 505.986.0440 • www.manitougalleries.com