As Art Santa Fe celebrates its 26th edition, we’re proud to announce this year’s Spotlight Award recipients—a select group of artists recognized for their creativity, innovation, and forward-thinking contributions to contemporary art.
Art Santa Fe 2026 will feature a dynamic mix of 75+ galleries, art dealers, and independent artists from around the world, showcasing original works in a variety of mediums—paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, giclées, lithographs, glass, and more.
Kicking off Santa Fe Art Week (July 9–19, 2026), this year’s fair offers attendees a rich lineup of special programming, including immersive Art Lab experiences and inspiring Meet the Artist sessions.
From an impressive roster of exhibitors, the Spotlight Program highlights a curated group of standout artists, offering collectors a focused view of emerging and established talent shaping the future of the visual arts.
Check out this year’s Spotlight Program recipients below!
Ellen Gonzales — Booth D-1
Ellen Gonzales is a New Mexico-based artist whose work celebrates the beauty, spirit, and symbolism of the natural world. Through expressive paintings inspired by birds, wildlife, florals, and Southwestern landscapes, she creates imagery that reflects a deep connection to nature and the emotional experiences it evokes. Her work is infused with movement, color, and a sense of wonder, inviting viewers to pause and reconnect with the world around them.
Loretta Rieth, Booth C-2
Loretta Rieth is a contemporary artist whose vibrant paintings celebrate the beauty, energy, and emotional resonance of the natural world. Inspired by landscapes, flora, and the ever-changing interplay of light and season, she creates richly layered compositions that blend technical skill with creative intuition. Through expressive movement, luminous color, and thoughtful interpretation, Rieth’s work explores themes of growth, harmony, and transformation, inviting viewers to experience nature with a renewed sense of wonder and connection.
Olga Lavrova, Booth C-8
Olga Lavrova is a contemporary artist whose work is inspired by the beauty of nature, the emotional power of color, and the timeless connection between people and their environment. Originally trained in classical artistic techniques, Lavrova has developed a distinctive visual style that blends technical precision with expressive creativity. Her paintings invite viewers into luminous worlds filled with movement, atmosphere, and a sense of wonder.
Ben Garza, Booth J-6
Ben Garza is a contemporary artist whose bold, expressive paintings celebrate the culture, landscapes, and spirit of the American Southwest. Inspired by his Texas roots, he blends realism and expressionism to create dynamic compositions that explore western themes, wildlife, ranch life, musicians, and iconic symbols of Southwestern heritage. Through rich color, layered brushwork, and a strong sense of storytelling, Garza captures the energy, warmth, and character of everyday life in the Southwest.
Arasley Rios, Seraphym Designs, Booth J-2
Arasely Rios is a contemporary visionary artist whose work explores spirituality, consciousness, and personal transformation through her jewelry designs. Through vibrant color, sacred symbolism, and intuitive imagery, she creates evocative compositions that invite viewers to look beyond the physical world and connect with deeper dimensions of self-awareness, healing, and universal interconnectedness.
