Ruby City is proud to partner with National Poetry Month San Antonio for the annual Ekphrastic Poetry Contest, culminating in a public Celebration Reading at the McNay Art Museum. Winning poets will read their original poems inspired by Norma (2019), a painting by Daniel Rios Rodriguez from his exhibition Open This Wall, currently on view in Studio at Chris Park.
Ekphrastic poetry responds to works of visual art, exploring how an artwork moves, challenges, or inspires the writer. The contest is open to San Antonio and South Texas poets, with categories for adults and youth.
Poets interested in participating can visit the Ruby City website to learn more about submission guidelines and how to enter the contest between February 4 and March 4, 2026. Selected poems will be featured online and shared throughout April in celebration of National Poetry Month.