On June 14, Game of Shrooms — an annual international “art-and-seek” event — will take place, with six Madison-area artists hiding free, mushroom-inspired artwork throughout the city.
The quirky event was started in 2019 by California-based artist Daniel Seifert. The one-day scavenger hunt went viral on Instagram (#gameofshrooms has more than 25 thousand posts) and is now an unofficial, underground holiday for artists around the world. This year’s tag, #gameofshrooms2025, has already been used on more than 500 posts previewing the pieces that will be hidden this year.
“I first participated in 2024 after moving to Madison,” says Natalie Jo Wright, whose mushroom ornaments will be hidden on the east side. “I love how it brings a little levity to our days … mushrooms just bring so much joy to people.”
Caleb Coopman also participated in previous years. His watercolor paintings will be hidden near Williamson Street. Other Madison-area participants include Lauren Beard Art, lucky8neko, Concordia Glassworks (Middleton), Brooke Rogers (Stoughton) and Leslie Damaso (Mineral Point).
“If someone is out and about downtown that morning, they likely won’t be too far from one of my pieces,” says Lauren Beard, a first-time participant who plans to post clues on her Instagram at 9 a.m. on June 14. All of her works will be hidden on the isthmus.
Check artists’ social media accounts for official clues on the morning of June 14.
Anna Kottakis is digital editor at Madison Magazine.
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