Santa Fe’s most infamous resident is set for his 101st burning this year, and artists have the chance to capture his legacy through art. As Old Man Gloom prepares for his annual burning, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is calling for submissions to the 2025 ZozoFest Art Show. Selected works will be on display at Santa Fe Place Mall, where crowds gather to honor, interpret, and reimagine his inevitable demise through art.
Subject Matter
Artwork in the ZozoFest Art Show must be primarily of Zozobra, though other relevant characters from the Zozobra performance, such as the Fire Spirit, Gloomies, and Torchbearers, are also welcome. Images inspired by or representing Will Shuster or the Los Cinco Pintores will also be considered, as will artwork depicting the Santa Fe Fiesta.
Remember that ZozoFest is a family-friendly event, and pieces depicting nudity or controversial political and religious messages will not be accepted.
Media
All media are invited! Your art can take the form of:
- Acrylic, oil, collage, mixed media
- Pastel, colored pencil, markers
- Digital art, photography
- Watercolor, sculpture, encaustic
- Resin, wax, layered media, video
- LEGOS, functional art, and more
As far as media goes, your only limitation is your imagination. We welcome your ideas for installation-type artwork as well.
Photographers may submit digital or film images. Alternative processes, mixed media, digital manipulations, montages, photograms, and other photographic creations are all acceptable.
Work that is not for sale is also welcome in the exhibition.
Entry Process
Entering art into the ZozoFest Art Show is completely free. To reserve your spot, you must complete a submission for each artwork via the online form, which includes a description of your work. You’ll be asked to upload a JPEG image of your work — image size must be at least 1500 pixels on the longest side but no larger than 3000 pixels. Please name your image file as “YourName_ArtworkTitle.jpg.”
You’ll be informed of your acceptance after Kiwanis Club members have reviewed all entries. Remember, any artwork you wish to display in the show must be previously submitted online.
All accepted artwork must be dropped off in person on Saturday, August 9, 2025, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the western end of Santa Fe Place Mall in the space next to Boot Barn. It’s each artist’s responsibility to ensure their artwork is well protected by placing it in a sturdy box or another carrying system.
Important Dates to Remember
- Deadline for online entry: Monday, August 4, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. MDT
- Artwork drop-off: Saturday, August 9, 2025, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- ZozoFest 2025 and Art Exhibition:
- Friday, August 22, 2025, from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Unsold Artwork Pick-up: Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. ONLY
Please plan ahead! Unsold artwork not picked up after the conclusion of ZozoFest will be considered a donation to the Santa Fe Kiwanis Club. There are NO EXCEPTIONS!
Presentation
All artwork must be framed or have a secure hanging mechanism if applicable. Three-dimensional works should be stable and ready for professional display. Presentation is very important, so consider having your art professionally prepared for exhibition and sale.
Eligibility
Anyone may enter! There are no restrictions on age or artist location — artists from around the world are welcome to participate. The only requirement is that the artwork submitted is original and created by the person who enters the work.
Entries previously submitted to the ZozoFest Art Show are eligible for consideration as long as they meet the criteria defined above.
Sales Information
Exhibited work will be available for sale (unless designated as Not For Sale or NFS). The price for each piece is at the artist’s discretion. ZozoFest Art Show will retain a commission of 25% on all sales, which will be used by Kiwanis to offset the cost of ZozoFest and contribute to their grant fund supporting children in the Santa Fe community. The 75% balance will be mailed to the artist within 30 days of the closing of the show.
When pricing your work, please factor in your material cost, time, and effort. Don’t undercharge for your work!
Note that artwork is more likely to sell when the artist is present to discuss their creation with visitors. As an exhibitor, please plan to spend several hours during the event talking about your work.
W-9 & Tax Reporting Requirements
Artists must complete a W-9 form when dropping off artwork. If total earnings reach $600 or more, the event organizers will submit a W-9 to the IRS, and the artist will be responsible for tax reporting.
Liability and Insurance
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe and ZozoFest Art Show organizers are not responsible for loss, damage, or theft of artwork. Artists should arrange their own insurance.
Shipping Guidelines
Artists outside Santa Fe needing to ship artwork must contact [email protected] to coordinate. Shipped artwork must arrive securely packaged by the drop-off date. Unsold shipped artwork must be returned at the artist’s expense, and arrangements must be made in advance.
Image Use Permissions
By entering, artists grant permission for submitted images to be used for promotional and marketing purposes for the ZozoFest Art Show 2025, with credit always given to the artist.
Zozobra Centennial Documentary
Celebrating a century of this unique tradition, Hutton Films created Zozobra: 100 Years of Fire & Redemption, a 42-minute journey through Old Man Gloom’s colorful history. The film captures the artistic evolution, community engagement, and cultural significance that have made Zozobra a Santa Fe icon.
At the 25th Annual Santa Fe Film Festival, this documentary earned the prestigious Best Story award and was selected as the opening night feature. Hutton Broadcasting was recognized as a Top Supporter and Partner for its commitment to sharing and preserving New Mexico’s cultural heritage.
Contact Information
For additional information about the Zozobra Art Exhibition, please email:
Raymond G. Sandoval, Esq.
Zozobra Event Committee Chair
[email protected]
The 2025 ZozoFest Art Show is part of the Burning of Zozobra, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe. Kiwanis is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities, resources, and services to youth.
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
