Native Elements, an Indigenous festival and market that will replace the long-standing Native Treasures, will take place over Memorial Day Weekend from May 21 through May 26 at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens, in the Santa Fe Plaza, at local galleries, and the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The city-wide celebration will mark the start of the 2025 Santa Fe summer art season. 

Sculpture by Cliff Fragua (Jemez Pueblo), whose works will be featured in an exhibit at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens.

 

“We created Native Elements because we know there is a need for the city and the Indigenous artists who have participated in this event to have an event such as this at this time of the year,” says David Young, executive director of the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens. “As soon as we heard that the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (MIAC) was no longer…putting on the Native Treasures event, we brought in a group of Native artists and together established a plan for this new event.” 

The event begins at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens at 5:30 p.m. on May 21 with an opportunity to meet featured artists Cliff Fragua, Zoë Urness, Steve and Cree LaRance, Jhane Myers, George Alexander and others, during an evening of food, drink, live music, auctions and the presentation of the first Native Elements Distinguished Achievement Award.

Sheldon Harvey (Navajo), Celestial Gardens, oil on canvas, 62 x 84”.

 

The event continues at the gardens on May 22 with a featured artist panel discussion at 11 a.m. with Native American Art executive editor Michael Clawson, and an opportunity to view the current exhibition of work by Jemez Pueblo sculptor Cliff Fragua.

That evening, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Native Elements heads down to the Santa Fe Plaza for a gallery stroll between top dealers of Indigenous art including King Galleries, Faust Galleries, Palace Jewelers at Manitou, Allan Houser Gallery, Niman Fine Art, True West, Mark Bahti, Shiprock, Rainbow Man and more. Involving the local galleries is an exciting addition to the Native Treasures format. 

“The gallery stroll is new to Native Elements as it is our wish to bring in the entire art community for this new season kick-off event,” says Young. “There are so many great galleries in Santa Fe that carry Native art so why not get that network of galleries engaged in this event and this was a good way to do it. They benefit from it, the artists benefit from it and the event benefits from it.”

George Alexander (Muscogee Creek), Smirk, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48”.

 

Silver and turquoise cuff by featured artist Cree LaRance, an enrolled member of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, with Hopi, Navajo, and Assiniboine roots.

 

The market, taking place at at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center where nearly 200 artists will show and sell their art, opens May 23 with a ticketed meet-the-artist reception and preview from 5 to 8 p.m.  The market opens to the public on May 24 at 10 a.m.

Sheldon Harvey will be among the artists at Native Elements. “My inspiration for [my painting Celestial Gardens] stems from the delicate balance between people and nature, reflecting how we coexist and flourish together," he says about one show piece. “Employing a rapid over-and-under painting technique, I’ve expanded upon the traditional method, incorporating inventive approaches and emphasizing polygon shapes to enhance abstraction. The focus lies in exploring color values, depth, contrast, and the nuances of perception, all while drawing upon the enduring stories, values, and customs of my Navajo heritage.”

Photography by featured Alaskan Tlinglit/Cherokee artist Zoë Urness. 

 

The market continues at the convention center through Sunday, May 25, with special programming ongoing at the Santa Fe Plaza throughout the weekend, and the final festival closing party taking place at the botanical gardens on Monday, May 26, at 5:30 p.m.

“We wish to highlight the best that Santa Fe has to offer,” says Young. “And as Memorial Day has always been the kick-off to the Santa Fe art season, we want to provide an event that does so in a way that brings the entire art market together to celebrate the unique vision that Santa Fe has to offer.” 

Visit native-elements.org for updates and information. —

May 21-26, 2025
Native Elements
native-elements.org
Santa Fe Botanical Gardens
715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 471-9103, www.visitsfbg.org
Santa Fe Community Convention Center
201 W. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 955-6200, www.santafe.com

Powered by Froala Editor