Las Curanderas: From Ashes, We Rise

CALLING LATINA ARTISTS ACROSS WISCONSIN

“Que los queme el fuego, que los queme el fuego y vengan nuevas flores.” 

“Let the fire burn them, let the fire burn them, and may new flowers emerge.” 

—Natalia Lafourcade, “María la Curandera”

During a time of political injustice, violence against our communities, and collective resistance, Las Curanderas: From Ashes, We Rise calls Latina artists across Wisconsin to come together as healers, truth-tellers, and agents of transformation.

This exhibition centers Latinas as powerful healers and bearers of transformation. We are each beautifully unique and collectively powerful. Through art, we alchemize destruction into hope, grief into power, and ashes into bloom.

We invite Latina artists to submit artworks that:

• Responds to the theme Las Curanderas: From Ashes, We Rise

• Explores the literal or metaphorical concept of fire as destruction, transformation, rebirth, or renewal 

• Draws inspiration from the song lyrics of “María la Curandera” by Natalia Lafourcade

Whether abstract or figurative, spiritual or political, deeply personal or communal; this is a space to reclaim visibility, amplify our voices, let what no longer serves us burn away, and plant new seeds, so we can rise together!

Dates

Final Submission Deadline: May 6, 2026 11:59 PM CT

Email Notification: June 6, 2026

Exhibition: September 15, 2026 - October 15, 2026

Opening Reception: September 15, 2026, 5 - 8PM

Eligibility

For this exhibition, “Latinas” includes all individuals who identify with Latina womanhood and femininity, including cisgender women, transgender women, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and Two-Spirit individuals of Latin American descent or heritage. This is a space for those who carry these identities and histories in their bodies and in their work.

The exhibition is open to artists at all career levels. Visual media are eligible, including but not limited to painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, printmaking, fiber, sculpture, and installation. 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Jessica M. Gutiérrez (jessicamgutierrez111@gmail.com) and Issis Macias (issismac@gmail.com). Please include “Las Curanderas” in the subject line.

APPLY: https://forms.gle/8aJmUBLFeapY1Kr6A

Submission Requirements

Artists must reside in the state of Wisconsin and be at least 18 years of age.

No entry fee is required.

Work must be original and created by the artist. No AI generated images.

By submitting, artists grant permission for images of their work to be used for exhibition promotion with full credit.

Artwork may be existing or newly created, but must align with the exhibition theme:

• Up to three (3) images of artwork (JPEG or PNG, high resolution)

• Maximum artwork submission size: 30 x 40 x 2 inches 

• Artwork details for each piece: title, year, medium, dimensions (inches, HxWxD), sale price, or Not For Sale (NFS)

• Artist statement (100–250 words) describing the connection to the exhibition theme

• Artist bio (75–100 words)

• Contact information (name, pronouns, email, socials, website, and city/state)

About the Curators

Jessica M. Gutiérrez is a self-taught Nicaraguan-American watercolor and mixed media artist based in Madison, Wisconsin. Her colorful, expressive work explores healing, ancestral stories, and the resilience of the human spirit through intuitive linework and vibrant imagery. She is an Honorable Mention recipient of the Wisconsin Women’s Network Artful Women exhibition, 2023-2025 Bridge Work artist at Arts + Literature Laboratory, and a 2023 Forward Art Prize finalist through the Women Artists Forward Fund.

Issis Macias is a self-taught abstract painter from Los Angeles, California, now based in Madison, Wisconsin. Her vibrant, intuitive work explores the emotional spectrum of human experience through layered compositions using acrylic and oil pastels. Macias was named the 2025 Latina Artist of the Year and is a recipient of the 2024 Micaela Salinas Artist Fellowship, sponsored by Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development. She was a 2023–2025 Bridge Work artist at Arts + Literature Laboratory, a 2023 Forward Art Prize finalist through the Women Artists Forward Fund, and is an active member of the Madison Art Guild.

Community Partners

Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD) is a statewide initiative focused on promoting collaboration between Latino arts and service organizations, artists, and the communities in which they operate. At LOUD, we are driven by a shared vision of a more vibrant, inclusive, and culturally rich Wisconsin as we continue to celebrate Latino arts, support our talented artists, and foster meaningful connections within our diverse community. For more information, please visit LOUD.

The Gallery at Truax provides diverse experiences by exhibiting creativity, innovation, and collaboration for Madison College and its community. The Gallery is an educational destination for discovery and expression, while promoting Madison College and its community. The Gallery is located in Room A1005, near the entrance of the Truax Building at 1701 Wright St., Madison, WI. For more information, please visit the Gallery at Truax.