Year of the Horse 2026–2027: Mel Auberty’s Art Supports Blue Horse Sanctuary

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For artist and Blue Horse Sanctuary founder Mel Auberty, the Year of the Horse is both a celebration and an opportunity to support the animals that inspire her work. Her exhibition, Year of the Horse: The Art of Mel Auberty, connects equine art with a commitment to providing lifelong care for horses and donkeys.

Opened on February 17, 2026, at Gallery 123 in the Dallas Design District, the exhibition continues toward its closing reception on February 5, 2027. Bringing together art, advocacy, and the relationship between people and horses, it offers a meaningful way to celebrate the Year of the Horse in 2026 and carry that momentum into early 2027.

The Horses Behind the Art

Auberty’s expressive equine paintings draw on a lifetime spent living and working with horses. Through bold color, gesture, and scale, her Blue Horse paintings explore the animals’ movement and individual presence. Her connection to horses extends beyond the studio to Blue Horse Sanctuary near Glen Rose, Texas.

Located at WildWood Ranch, the Blue Horse Sanctuary provides unwanted equines and donkeys with a permanent home, health care, companionship, and green pastures. Its residents give the exhibition’s celebration of horses a purpose: honoring these animals means taking responsibility for their well-being.

Year of the Horse Art With a Purpose

Auberty dedicates all proceeds from her Blue Horse Series and Blue Horse prints to supporting Blue Horse Sanctuary. These works connect collecting art with sustaining the sanctuary’s mission and the ongoing care of its residents.

For visitors exploring Year of the Horse paintings, the exhibition offers an opportunity to understand the connection between Auberty’s subjects and her work on their behalf. In this regard, every collector of Auberty’s works of art becomes a donor.

Year of the Horse 2027: A Closing Celebration

The February 5, 2027 closing reception at Gallery 123 brings the exhibition’s celebration into the new calendar year. For those planning Year of the Horse 2027 activities in Dallas, it is an opportunity to experience Auberty’s work and learn about the sanctuary it supports.

Explore the exhibition and available artwork at melauberty.com. To participate directly in the mission, learn about Blue Horse Sanctuary’s residents, make a donation, or subscribe to sanctuary updates.