Wasted Days and Wasted Nights is a new exhibition at Leon Gallery, from Jul 11 – Aug 15, 2026. This solo show by Denver-born, Long Beach-based artist Mario Zoots is in collaboration with his son, curator Jonas Sanchez. The exhibition is a grouping of new works, including large xeroxed family photos, collages, and an installation piece, that all together highlight themes of family, Denver culture, and heritage. Zoots’ featured works explore new concepts never before touched on. A body of work rooted in personal exploration, lowrider culture, religious upbringing, and the figures who shaped Zoots’ early life, including his grandmother, Sara Sanchez, whose presence anchors the whole exhibition, and whose favorite song was Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, by Tex-Mex musician Freddy Fender.
The opening reception will be on July 11th from 6pm to 9pm. Denver-based photographer, Juan Fuentes, will be spinning vinyl records at the opening. He will play Wasted Days and Wasted Nights every 30 minutes.
“I’m finally starting to realize,” the artist once said “I’ve never really explored what Mario Sanchez means as an artist. It’s all very new.”