Robert Woodman, New Mexico Tinsmith

Robert Woodman (1908-1983) was an extraordinary artist in forming frames in tinwork with back-painted glass. Woodman was a Santa Fe master tinsmith, or hojalatero, famous for his tin frames, known as marcos.  

“The decorative tin light fixtures illuminating the buildings of Los Poblanos (in Albuquerque) are examples of tinsmith Robert Woodman’s finest work. Woodman was part of the Spanish Pueblo Revival movement during the WPA period, which sought to perpetuate New Mexico’s unique craft of Hispanic religious decorative tinwork. He frequently collaborated with John Gaw Meem in designing fixtures for some of New Mexico’s most famous buildings, including Zimmerman Library at UNM and La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe. [Website of Los Poblanos historic inn in Albuquerque]