YEAR OF THE HORSE:
A Celebration of Horses Through Painting, Photography & Mixed Media
@ FOMA Gallery located in the Guadalupe Center
333 Montezuma Ave., Unit B
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Admission - FREE
Opening Reception: Fridday, August 21, from 4:00–7:00 PM
This Pop-up exhibition celebrates the beauty, power, and spirit of horses through painting, photography, and mixed media. What makes this exhibition even more meaningful is that all three exhibiting artists—Mel Auberty, Yvonne Denman, and myself, Cressandra Thibodeaux—were all born in the Year of the Horse. While we share the same Chinese zodiac sign, each of us brings a unique artistic vision and perspective, creating a dynamic exhibition inspired by one of the world's most enduring and beloved animals. If you're in Santa Fe, I hope you'll join us for the opening reception on Friday, August 21, from 4:00–7:00 PM at FOMA Gallery. Come celebrate horses, art, and the creative spirit with us. We'd love to see you there!
Featured Artists:
Mel Auberty is a Texas-based painter and sculptor celebrated for her expressive depictions of horses and the American West. Inspired by the rugged beauty of her family ranch and a lifelong connection to horses, her work captures their strength, movement, and spirit. Auberty's paintings and sculptures are held in numerous public and private collections, and she is the founder of Blue Horse Sanctuary, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and caring for senior and retired horses. Website: https://melauberty.com/
Yvonne Denman is a Southern California fine art photographer and pastel artist whose award-winning work is known for its painterly, atmospheric quality. Drawing inspiration from the Pictorialist tradition, she creates evocative images that celebrate light, landscape, and the timeless beauty of horses. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is recognized for its quiet elegance and emotional depth. Website: https://www.yvonnedenmanphotoart.com/
Cressandra Thibodeaux is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe) and an interdisciplinary artist working in photography, screen printing, and mixed media. Her work explores identity, memory, Indigenous culture, and the mythology of the American West. She is the recipient of the Texas Photographic Society's National Photography Award and has exhibited nationally. In addition to creating her own work, Thibodeaux is the curator of both The Three Fires: Contemporary Anishinaabe Artists during Santa Fe Indian Market and Year of the Horseat FOMA Gallery. Her photographs for Year of the Horse present a contemporary Western Pop perspective that celebrates the horse as a timeless symbol of freedom, resilience, and imagination. Website: https://www.cressandra.com
In a remarkable coincidence, all three artists were born in the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Horse, making this exhibition both a personal and artistic celebration of the qualities traditionally associated with the Horse—freedom, creativity, courage, passion, perseverance, and an adventurous spirit. For centuries, horses have inspired artists across cultures. They have served as companions, workers, protectors, and symbols of strength and independence. In the American West, the horse remains an enduring icon of resilience, movement, and possibility. Through painting, photography, and mixed media, Year of the Horse explores these themes from three distinct artistic perspectives, each honoring the grace, power, and emotional connection horses evoke.
What Does the Year of the Horse Mean?
In the Chinese zodiac, the Horse symbolizes energy, independence, determination, and creativity. People born in the Year of the Horse are often described as optimistic, adventurous, hardworking, and driven by a deep love of freedom. These qualities are reflected throughout the exhibition, where each artist interprets the horse not simply as a subject, but as a powerful symbol of movement, transformation, and the enduring human spirit.
The public is warmly invited to attend the opening reception on Friday, August 21, from 4:00–7:00 PM, meet the artists, and experience this dynamic celebration of equine art. Following the opening, the exhibition will remain on view through August 25, with gallery hours Monday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.For additional information, interviews, or exhibition images, please contact:
Cressandra Thibodeaux
Curator & Exhibiting Artist
