Art Conversations at El Zaguán
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
This conversation took place between mixed media artist and illustrator Rebecca Lee Kunz and Gallery Manager Anne Kelly in honor of Kunz's exhibition, "Green :: Home." The exhibition was on view at the Gallery at El Zaguán from September 5 to September 27, 2025. In this conversation, Kunz and Kelly discuss Kunz's process, inspirations, illustrating picture books, and more.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Rebecca Lee Kunz is the artist and owner of Tree of Life Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, working at the intersection of environmental justice and cultural awareness. Rebecca is a painter, printmaker, and illustrator, and the 2025 Randolf Caldecott medalist. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Rebecca’s work draws upon tribal iconography and archetypal symbolism. She infuses mythology into her work, where she is in conversation with each tale as a living and emergent story. A visual storyteller and folklorist, she hopes to illuminate awareness about our shifting climate and to inspire solutions to the issues of today. Through her picture book illustrations, her goal is to inspire children so that they may see themselves in the visual stories she tells.
Read more about the exhibition here
Contact: Anne Kelly at anne@historicsantafe.org or call 505.983.2567 for more information.
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
This conversation took place between tinsmith Esteban Ismael Durán and Gallery Manager Anne Kelly in honor of Durán's exhibition, "Tales of Memories and Transformation." The exhibition was on view at the Gallery at El Zaguán from May 30 to June 21, 2025. This engaging discussion provides insights into the history of punch tin and explores how Durán uses this material to create unique contemporary artworks through traditional techniques, among other topics.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Esteban Ismael Durán is a self-taught artist born and raised in Albuquerque's historic Old Town. Inspired by the vibrant art scene of his youth and mentored in the discipline of tinwork by the late Ted Arellanes, Durán has developed a distinctive artistic voice. The New Mexico Museum Foundation has acquired his work, and he has contributed to public art projects in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. A significant chapter of his career was spent in the Pacific Northwest with Michael Curry Design & Sculptural Engineering, where he contributed to creating masks and puppets for Disney's The Lion King theatrical productions on Broadway and international stages. Returning to New Mexico in 2016, Durán continues to explore mixed media, design, and the innovative use of repurposed materials. He currently resides in Albuquerque's South Valley.