Join us at ROJO on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 6 to 9pm for the opening of Behind the Mask, our annual exhibit of some of the beautiful masks created by Bare Hands’ Day of the Dead Mask Krewe for our annual Día de los Muertos Alabama festival!

The masks will be on display and available for purchase October 2 - 30.  Any unsold masks will travel to the Día de los Muertos festival on November 2 at Sloss Furnaces and join many more masks for sale in the Bare Hands tent in the festival art market. Proceeds from mask sales benefit Bare Hands.

The Mask Krewe is one of Bare Hands’ longest-running volunteer teams. Founded in 2005 by Birmingham artist Craig Legg, this krewe is composed of local artists who generously donate their time and creativity to produce 150 to 200 masks each year celebrating the festival’s vibrant spirit.

The intricate creative process takes place over several months. It begins with handcrafting each mask from papier-mâché draped over molded forms or inflated balloons, which are then left to dry in the sun. Once dry, the masks are individually painted and adorned in a variety of styles, adding color and energy to the celebration and offering festival goers a tangible reminder of the event. 

Artists featured in Behind the Mask:

Lisa Bonner, Marjorie Boykin, Cherie Calvert, Christina Cenczyk, Mona Garrett, Sibylle Kristensen, Ilya Kristensen, Cheryl May, Candy Mayer, Amber Montgomery, Karen Paghdam, Christianne Strang, Ellie Strang, Johnny Welch, Stephanie Welch and Kelly Wiltsey