There’s a moment in every city’s cultural history when someone decides to stop waiting for permission. For Albuquerque, that moment is now, and designer Benjamin Nelson, otherwise known as The Son of Picasso, is at the center of it.
The Son of Picasso’s CAMP 2.0: Cyclical Artistic Mentorship Program, subtitled Stitched in Tradition, has secured city funding from Bernalillo County District 3, making it the first initiative of its kind to receive this level of support from the City of Albuquerque. The program combines paid fashion workshops rooted in cultural storytelling with two public runway shows this fall: one at Chispas Farms in the South Valley in October, and a landmark show at Civic Plaza in front of City Hall in November.
The workshops will take place in the International District, commonly known as “The Warzone,” where The Son of Picasso grew up. Students who complete the program will debut their own original looks on the November runway. And in a pair of historic firsts, the City of Albuquerque will acquire its first-ever textile piece and first denim painting for its permanent collection through this project.
“We’re not a flyover state for culture. We’re done asking for a seat. We’re building our own table.”
The Son of Picasso
In his own words
This is the first initiative of its kind to receive City of Albuquerque funding. What does that milestone mean to you?
Personally, it’s validation. I’ve been building in this city for years, often without a roadmap or resources. To have the City of Albuquerque put real funding behind fashion and mentorship tells me they see what I see. This funding is a signal that Albuquerque is ready to invest in fashion as an actual industry, not just a side hustle. The talent has always been here. Now we’re getting the infrastructure.
You’re bringing these workshops to the International District, the community that raised you. What do you want young creatives to walk away with?
The skills matter, sewing, design, and how to concept a collection. But what I really want them to walk away with is proof. Proof that someone who grew up on these same streets can get city funding, put on shows at Civic Plaza, and have work collected by the City. I want them to see themselves as worthy of investment. Your zip code isn’t your ceiling. Your story has value. Your perspective is what makes NM fashion different from New York or LA. Own it.
Students will debut their own looks at Civic Plaza in November. What will that moment feel like?
Man, I’m probably gonna cry and try to hide it. Seeing these students walk their own work in front of City Hall, in the heart of downtown; it’s full circle. It’s not just a fashion show. It’s a public statement that young creatives from our communities belong in the center of this city. I can’t wait to be in the crowd for that.
The City will acquire its first textile and first denim painting through this project. How did that come about?
It came about because we asked. We showed the City that fashion and textiles are fine art, and that New Mexico has a legacy in it. They listened. Denim is my medium. It’s working class. It’s what I grew up in. To have the City say “this belongs in our permanent collection;” it means my culture, my community’s aesthetic, is being archived as ABQ history. We just kicked the door open for every fiber artist and designer coming after us.
Applications close June 3rd. What’s your message to anyone still on the fence?
Apply. If you’re waiting to feel “ready” or “good enough,” you’ll be waiting forever. I wasn’t ready when I started. Nobody from my neighborhood had a blueprint. CAMP 2.0 is the blueprint. It’s paid. It’s in your community. It ends with you on a runway downtown. The worst that happens is you learn something. The best that happens is you change your life and your city. Bet on yourself. We’re ready for you.
