Artist in residence Vaquero Azul says his new exhibit at the Central Library is “a love letter to our transcestors and queer ancestors who have been here since time immemorial.”
“Nuestra Euforia / Our Euphoria” opened Oct. 18 at the Central Library’s Level 8 gallery. Curated by Azul, it showcases artwork by Azul and other local trans and gender non-conforming artists, as well as photographs of local cultural bearers and icons.
A Trans Pride Ofrenda honoring trans, two-spirit, and gender-expansive relatives is also on display. The exhibit is presented in English and Spanish.
Azul is an Otomí, Maya and Boriken-Taíno, Two-Spirit illustrator and sewist. The exhibit showcases Mesoamerican folklórico garments sewed by Azul during their Library residency for Danza Monarcas, a local LGBTQ2IA+ folklórico group. Photographs of Danza Monarcas members performing in Azul’s garments will also be displayed.
“I wanted to create garments that are filled with love, pride, and the beauty of us thriving as Mesoamerican Queer people,” says Azul.
Other artists featured in the exhibit are Iy Cardona (he/him), whose artwork is a visual testament to finding peace and joy in living authentically; Gael Luna (they/he), a trans queer immigrant artist and community organizer; Ocelotl Mora (el/he/him), a social practice artist whose projects weave together storytelling, somatics, ritual, and community; Damien (he/him), a Mexican artist/photographer who works in mixed media; Christian ‘The Mezzy Mermaid’ (he/they), a Two-Spirit artisan from the Raramuri and Piipaash peoples; Lily and Gee Demko, Chicanx glass artists; and Raul Garcia, a Chicano artist who paints calaveras (skulls) on glass bottles.
Take a gallery tour on Sunday, Dec. 14
On Sunday, Dec. 14, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Vaquero Azul will lead a gallery tour at the Central Library’s Level 8 gallery. Check back for more information at www.spl.org/calendar.
About the Trans Pride Ofrenda
The Trans Pride Ofrenda is an altar that honors missing and murdered trans and two-spirit, gender expansive relatives, and invites visitors to learn about these losses and honor and protect these communities. Every year on November 20, Trans people worldwide gather for the Transgender Day of Remembrance to remember those lost to hate crimes in the past year.
About Vaquero Azul
Vaquero Azul (He/They – El/Elle) is a Otomí, Maya and Taíno, Two-Spirit illustrator and sewist. Their work focuses on Trans Euforia and Mexican and Mesoamerican Indigenous joy. He believes in a world where Trans, Two-Spirit, Dos Espíritus people are celebrated, loved, and left feeling proud of who they are and expresses it in their body of art. Vaquero Azul was a Library artist in residence from 2024 to 2025.
“Nuestra Euforia / Our Euphoria” will close on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
This exhibit is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation.
See also: Q&A with artist in residence Vaquero Azul