Our Story
Santa Fe Trails Fine Art, formerly known as Mountain Trails Gallery, has established itself as a prominent and highly regarded fine art gallery specializing in the American West since the early 1990s. Located on the Old Santa Fe Trail in the historic city of Santa Fe, our gallery represents over sixty-five highly acclaimed artists from national and international backgrounds. Our diverse collection showcases a captivating blend of Traditional, Native American, Western, and Contemporary artwork, including paintings, bronze and stone sculptures, and artifact reproductions. Our gallery’s commitment to showcasing a diverse selection of exceptional artwork allows art lovers to appreciate various styles and themes that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the American West, providing a platform for artist talent to thrive and be appreciated.
At Santa Fe Trails Fine Art, our dedicated team of friendly and knowledgeable staff members takes pride in offering a wide range of services to enhance your gallery experience. Whether you seek information about our artists and their artwork or require comprehensive assistance with painting or bronze commissions, installations, or placing fine art in the secondary art market, we are here to assist you every step of the way.
We would also like to share that on June 11, 2021, Vic and Angie Payne welcomed Michele Couch and Gary Mehan as our Partners. We want to express our gratitude for your support in helping us preserve and share the beauty, spirit, and enduring legacy of the American West through its art, history, and rich culture. Our commitment to building long-standing relationships, both with artists and customers, remains unwavering.
We warmly invite you to visit our gallery, which is open seven days a week. Immerse yourself in the richness of the American West as you explore our exquisite fine art collection at Santa Fe Trails Fine Art!
Meet the Team
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Michele Couch
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PARTNER
A native of New Mexico, I spent my childhood in Santa Fe and moved to Colorado as a young adult. After graduating and getting married, I moved back to Santa Fe, where I got my start at Mountain Trails Gallery in 1997 with Vic Payne. At the time, we both lived in Pagosa Springs, CO, and I had worked for his accountant, Rod Rea and Associates. My plan was to find a job working for another accountant when Vic offered me the opportunity to work at his gallery doing administrative work. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work in a Fine Art gallery.
I’m excited to say that in June 2021, I became the Executive Director and Partner of Mountain Trails Gallery, dba Santa Fe Trails Fine Art. My experience here has been very fulfilling and exhilarating. There is never a dull moment. I work in the heart of Santa Fe, surrounded by beauty and incredible artistic talent. Through the decades, I have become remarkably close with our Artists and Collectors, they are family to me, and it’s incredibly special to me to connect with the one thing we all have in common…Art!
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Sonia Leyba
FINE ART CONSULTANT
I was born in Santa Fe, NM, raised in Corpus Christi, TX, and moved back to Santa Fe after graduating high school. After a year back in Santa Fe, I moved to Los Angeles to study and pursue a career in acting. My love for the arts changed in a new direction when I began working for Vic and Angie Payne in 1999 at Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson, WY; Park City, UT; and Santa Fe, NM.
In 2003, I went on to sell real estate and coffee and met my husband. Over the next 14 years, we worked together to build our local beverage and distribution company. We have six children, three boys and three girls, whom I am honored to homeschool.
In June 2021, the opportunity arose to come back and work in the gallery as Vic and Angie Payne partnered up with Michele Couch and Gary Mehan…as soon as I walked in the door, I knew I was home. One day last year, before Indian Market, Vic said, “We got the whole gang back together!” I love it here, it is a true family, and I thank God for every one of our owners, staff, artists, and clients. As Angie says, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
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Jade Valdez
REGISTRAR
Jade joined our team at Santa Fe Trails Fine Art in June 2022. She is the galleries Registrar and Art Handler taking care of packing and unpacking artworks and preparing works for gallery exhibition, arranging works of art for domestic and international shipment, and maintaining the art gallery's computer database to input client information.
Jade is also a full-time student at the Institute of American Indian Arts seeking a Bachelor in Studio Arts.
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Jacob Couch
FINE ART CONSULTANT
Jacob was raised in Santa Fe, NM and was surrounded by artists and the art gallery business all his life due to his mother, Michele Couch. Jacob works full time as a Luxury Property Manager and Leasing Agent at Landseer Management. During the weekend and gallery art shows, you can also find Jacob sharing his time and many talents as a Fine Art Consultant at Santa Fe Trails Fine Art.