Several weeks ago we were driving west on Central Avenue–Route 66–in Albuquerque, and we passed the Absolutely Neon Art Gallery & Studio. I had never noticed it before. Today we had lunch nearby and decided to stop in.
The building is very deep, so the gallery is in the front of the store and Robert’s studio is in the back. There’s a wide range of pieces from the very small to the very large, and everything from a small Route 66 sign and a “hotel” sign (which I covet) to a large piece with three fish in a row, clocks, a billiard table, and the classic beer and bar signs. As with everything art, you can have pretty much anything you want done in neon.
Robert does a great deal of commission work, so if there’s something special you’ve been seeking, he’s the guy. And it’s a fun place just to go in and look. The tables and walls are covered with neon art, photos, sketches and albums full of his work.
We had thought about getting a small neon piece for the wall of the sitting room in our Route 66 Suite. We’re still working on repainting and decorating, and I will definitely keep that in mind. It’s the one room in our B&B where guests walk in and say, “what a fun room!”
Absolutely Neon
3903 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 265-6366
www.absolutelyneon.com
