Into the Great White Sands: Photographs by Craig Varjabedian at the Branigan Cultural Center; Reception May 1

Photographer Craig Varjabedian was inspired by the luminous, shifting white gypsum dunes found at White Sands National Park.

Source: City of Las Cruces
Photo By Craig Varjabedian: Courtesy

Experience the ever-changing gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park with a new photography exhibition at the Branigan Cultural Center, featuring the work of noted New Mexico photographer Craig Varjabedian. Into the Great White Sands: Photographs by Craig Varjabedian opens with a special reception from 5- 7 p.m. on May 1, 2026, which includes a gallery talk from 5:30 – 6 p.m. from NMSU Archives Director Dennis Daily. The exhibition runs through Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Photographer Craig Varjabedian was inspired by the luminous, shifting white gypsum dunes found at White Sands National Park. This fueled his desire to capture its extraordinary landscapes, complex ecology, and the people who come from across the world to see these magnificent dunes. In his images, Varjabedian has suspended time for the viewer, capturing the many magical moments he experienced while chronicling the unique White Sands landscape.

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Varjabedian’s gifted eye, technical expertise, and years of work on this project combine to create a particularly dynamic, haunting, and unforgettable array of photographs capturing the many moods of White Sands. Images range from landscapes capturing sunrise and sunset, to the dunes during monsoon season. The historic 1930s national park offices are a character in the story as well. He particularly revels in the joy of people, young and old, who walk or play on the dunes.

Craig Varjabedian is an award-winning photographer based in New Mexico who uses photography to share stories of the land and the people who live on it. Through this intimate relationship he offers viewers a new way of seeing – one that transcends everyday perception and expands our awareness of the potential of every moment. His photographs have been exhibited in state and national museums and have been made into several books, including Into the Great White Sands, published by University of New Mexico Press in 2018. It was the 2018 recipient of a New Mexico/Arizona Book Award.

The Into the Great White Sands photographic collection is owned by the NMSU Library, Archives, and Special Collections.

The Branigan Cultural Center is located at 501 N. Main St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission fee. The museum is accessible from Roadrunner Transit Route 1 Stop 1. For additional information, visit the website at https://www.lascruces.gov/museums or call (575) 541-2137/ TTY 711.