Teri Sodd: A Lifetime of Art and Community in Ruidoso

Nearly five decades ago, Teri Sodd set foot in Ruidoso with an artist’s eye and a dream. She told herself, “Someday, I will live here. Someday, I want to buy that building.”

At the time, she was living in Texas, building a name for herself as an artist and gallery owner. But Ruidoso had already captured her heart. Today, as the longtime owner of Mountain Arts Gallery and a celebrated artist, Sodd has dedicated her life to shaping the local art scene—one pastel stroke at a time.

Teri Sodd. Artist/Owner Mountain Arts Gallery, Ruidoso.

From Silversmithing to Pastels: An Artist’s Journey

Sodd’s artistic journey began in Lubbock, Texas, where she established Mountain Arts Gallery in 1975—not as a physical storefront but as a business identity under which she sold her handmade jewelry and artwork. Initially, she focused on silversmithing, traveling to art shows across the country, including those with musician Michael Martin Murphey.

Over the years, her creative interests expanded. While showcasing her work at fairs, she found herself drawn to Ruidoso—not just as a place to sell her art but as a community she wanted to call home. During one visit, she picked up a few sheets of paper and charcoal pencils and sketched her first portraits—simple but deeply personal works that she later sold in Roswell for just $3 apiece.

Ruidoso remained a place she visited for years, but in 1981, she took a leap of faith and moved to town permanently, establishing Mountain Arts Gallery's first brick-and-mortar location. A few years later, she relocated to The Gazebo Shopping Center in Midtown before finally settling in 1985 at the existing location at 2530 Sudderth Drive—the very building she once dreamed of owning.

At the time, Ruidoso was already a thriving hub for artists, fueled by a deep creative culture and a historic art school in Carrizo Canyon that attracted students from across the country. Sodd became part of this tradition, teaching classes and sharing her expertise with aspiring artists.

A Signature Style Rooted in Emotion

Sodd’s artwork is instantly recognizable—not just for its striking realism but for its deep emotional resonance. Unlike acrylic and oil painters, she works exclusively with pastel pencils, a medium she finds perfect for capturing the subtle details and nuances of human expression.

“With pastels, I can bring out every shift in emotion, every flicker of thought in the eyes,” she explains. “It makes my subjects feel alive.”

Much of her work is inspired by Native American culture. Over the years, she has spent time with numerous tribes, drawn to their rich traditions and storytelling. Each of her portraits is based on a real person she has met—someone whose presence resonated with her. She photographs her subjects first, then translates their essence onto paper, ensuring each piece carries the depth of their spirit.

“If you make up faces, they don’t look real,” Sodd says. “I want my art to make people feel something.”

Her daughter, Mandy—whom she calls her “best friend”— describes her as a “painter of feelings, emotions, and expressions.” This emotional depth is what makes Sodd’s work so powerful, drawing viewers in with a quiet intensity.

A unique hallmark of her art is the inscribed words​​ on the back of each piece: “God’s talent and my labor.” This simple but profound statement of her artistic philosophy recognizes that creativity is both a gift and a lifelong discipline.

A Pillar of Ruidoso’s Art and Culture

For Sodd, art isn’t just about creation—it’s about connection. Her passion extends beyond the canvas, shaping Ruidoso’s artistic identity through mentorship, events, and advocacy.

Over the years, Mountain Arts Gallery has grown to represent nearly 100 artists from New Mexico and beyond. Many of these relationships were forged at art shows, and several artists have worked with Sodd for decades, becoming, in her words, “like family.”

Beyond her gallery, Sodd has played an active role in Ruidoso’s community development. She was instrumental in founding the Ruidoso Midtown Association and served as its first president. She also helped establish beloved local traditions, including the annual Easter Egg Hunt and Midtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat event and supported the local theater program.

Her contributions to the town’s art scene are just as significant. She sees Ruidoso evolving into a destination for collectors, similar to Santa Fe and Taos, attracting visitors eager to discover original works. 

She’s also a champion of public art, calling Midtown’s murals “an awesome addition” and hoping to see even more in the future.

“The number of new artists coming here is incredible,” Sodd says. “It’s what keeps the art scene thriving.”

A Lasting Legacy

While Mountain Arts Gallery may have started in Texas nearly 50 years ago, Sodd’s artistic journey took root in Ruidoso. Through her art, gallery, and unwavering support for local artists, she has had an undeniable imprint on the community.

“I always knew I’d live here someday,” she says, gazing around her gallery with a smile. “But I never imagined just how much this place would give back to me in return.”

As Mountain Arts Gallery marks nearly five decades since its founding and over 40 years as part of Ruidoso’s creative fabric, it stands not just as a business but as a testament to a lifetime of passion, perseverance, and the belief that art—at its best—tells the stories of the people who create it.

Mountain Arts Gallery

Website

Address: 2530 Sudderth Dr, Ruidoso, NM 88345, United States

Phone: +1 575-257-9748

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