Event Description
November 1, 2022 – March 5, 2023

Ricardo Soltero, Lady Mictlán, fiberglass and paint, 2017.
La Calavera Catrina features eight larger-than-life skeleton sculptures of La Catrina, one of the most recognizable figures of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). An elegant female skeleton and an icon of Mexican heritage, La Catrina approaches death not through sadness, but as a colorful celebration of life.
Ricardo Soltero, La vendedora de frutas (The Fruit Seller), fiberglass and paint, 2017.
Designed by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero, these sculptures will add an element of surprise during your Garden stroll, and blend with the surrounding landscape in unexpected ways. Additional works by Soltero can be viewed in Fogg Café and the Berger Shop in the Garden.
About the Artist
Born in Nayarit, México, Ricardo Soltero is the set designer for the largest Día de los Muertos celebration in the United States, which takes place annually at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Both a sculptor and a costume designer, Soltero uses diverse media including papier-mâché, recycled materials, wood, fiberglass, and fabric.
Purchase Garden Admission Tickets
La Calavera Catrina is organized by Denver Botanic Gardens and is included with Garden admission.
This event supports this year’s theme, Mexico: A Celebration of Plants & Culture, which highlights one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and celebrates cultural connections to the natural world.
Supported by:


Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.