Zelda Art Show at Nantes Utopiales

Geek-Art x Ville de Nantes

As part of the 2023 Utopiales in Nantes and its theme of “Transmission,” Geek-Art was invited to curate an exhibition dedicated to video games. In this milestone year for Nintendo, the choice naturally fell on The Legend of Zelda. Talented artists were brought together to create a large-scale display spanning over 10 meters. In total, 15 artworks by 7 artists were presented over the 5 days of the festival, held at the Cité des Congrès in Nantes.

Passing on the Spirit of Adventure
Curator: Thomas Olivri, Geek-Art

Since its first release in 1986 on the NES, the Zelda saga has enchanted generations of players around the world. Each new installment is a major cultural event, eagerly awaited by millions of fans. Its universe has become so iconic and deeply embedded in pop culture that it has inspired countless artists — with its ruins, hidden temples, creatures both menacing and endearing, and atmospheres shifting from the eerie to the lighthearted.

For decades, Zelda has sparked our collective imagination, leaving an enduring mark on the creative minds it touches. This landmark video game franchise has consistently carried forward, game after game, the same thirst for discovery, the same drive to set off on adventures and explore the lands of Hyrule.

This exhibition set out to showcase just how profoundly the series has inspired generations of artists. Whether lifelong gamers or occasional players, each one has been influenced in their own way by The Legend of Zelda, paying tribute to a saga that has left a mark not only on the history of video games, but also on the wider realm of the imagination.