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Art seen

Where to see (and buy) art in San Diego County

Karla Walter’s purple ceramic crow resides at the Studio Door.
Karla Walter’s purple ceramic crow resides at the Studio Door.
Place

Studio Door

3867 Fourth Avenue, San Diego

In a bid to rid themselves of the “starving artist” label, veteran San Diego artists came together to create the Studio Door, which is a business that allows them to produce their own work but also learn how to navigate the commercial side of art — a process they’ve dubbed “Art-to-Market.” For anyone serious about making a living as an artist, the Studio Door wants to help. They also create programs and events, such as February’s international “Crow Show” exhibition and April’s “50 to Watch” regional exhibition, which will take place at two locations: one in North Park, the other in Solana Beach.

Place

Spanish Village Art Center

1770 Village Place, San Diego

Visit one or all of the eclectic studios at the historic Spanish Village Art Center, which was built in 1935 and meant to resemble a charming Spanish town. Take in the colors, lines, and textures of Denise Strahm’s elemental photographs. Experience the enchanting silk paintings of Chinese watercolor artist Lucy Wang. Other mediums found here include jewelry, glass, quilts, and ceramics. One studio specializes in decorative eggs and kaleidoscopes. See the artists at work, enjoy their finished pieces, and maybe sign up for a class, as most of these creators are happy to share their techniques.

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Place

Thumbprint Gallery

920 Kline Street #104, San Diego

San Diego boasts a vibrant street art scene with new works popping up daily — a week could easily be spent just driving around and discovering giant murals and sculptures. But if you want to focus on one artist at a time and mingle with fellow enthusiasts, try checking the lineup at Thumbprint Gallery. Here you’ll find work from both emerging and established artists whose contemporary pieces could be described as urban or pop surrealist. Much of it is rooted in punk music and edgy comic books, and often described as both lowbrow and awesome.

Place

Fallbrook Art Center

103 S. Main Avenue, Fallbrook

In the three galleries at Fallbrook Art Center, you’ll find exceptional and original visual art pieces, all by regional artists. Executive director Mary Perhacs loves the work she houses almost as much as the people who create it. All art in the center is for sale, and even the colorful, naturally lit gift shop boasts handmade works. Collectors accustomed to the high prices that quality work often fetches will be pleasantly surprised at the modest price tags here.

Place

St. Madeleine Sophie's Center

2119 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon

At St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities can take part in a program that allows them to communicate their thoughts and feelings via painting and mixed media. Though these artists may struggle in other areas of life, their genius is evident in their colorful, expressive work. You can view and buy their art at Sophie’s Gallery & Gift Shop at 109 Rea Avenue in downtown El Cajon. When you purchase a piece, you not only take home a special creation, you also support the program that made it possible. Artists earn a portion of the proceeds from every sale of their work, and the rest goes back to the center.

Place

Casa Valencia Galleria Baja

2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16 #101, San Diego

If you want to get a glimpse of the bustling art scene in Tijuana, you need go no further than Liberty Station. This is where, in the summer of 2012, Aida Valencia opened Casa Valencia: Galería Baja as part of her “Un paso al norte” (A step to the north) project, with a mission to expose more San Diegans to Baja artists. Valencia was born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana and is herself an artist, specializing in mosaics. Each show at Casa Valencia features more than one artist, and there are new exhibition receptions the first Friday of every month.

Place

Glashaus Artist Collective Warehouse

1815 Main Street, San Diego

On the last Saturday of every month from 4 to 10pm, art lovers flock to the Barrio Arts District for the Barrio Art Crawl. At Glashaus, a major stop along the way, they’ll happen upon the latest oeuvres to come out of the 20 artist studios on the premises. Artists at Glashaus, known as Hausers, work in all mediums, including photography, sculpture, painting, ceramics, and, yes, glass. Also on the crawl and not to be missed: the many studios at Bread & Salt, La Bodega Gallery, and Chicano Art Gallery.

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Karla Walter’s purple ceramic crow resides at the Studio Door.
Karla Walter’s purple ceramic crow resides at the Studio Door.
Place

Studio Door

3867 Fourth Avenue, San Diego

In a bid to rid themselves of the “starving artist” label, veteran San Diego artists came together to create the Studio Door, which is a business that allows them to produce their own work but also learn how to navigate the commercial side of art — a process they’ve dubbed “Art-to-Market.” For anyone serious about making a living as an artist, the Studio Door wants to help. They also create programs and events, such as February’s international “Crow Show” exhibition and April’s “50 to Watch” regional exhibition, which will take place at two locations: one in North Park, the other in Solana Beach.

Place

Spanish Village Art Center

1770 Village Place, San Diego

Visit one or all of the eclectic studios at the historic Spanish Village Art Center, which was built in 1935 and meant to resemble a charming Spanish town. Take in the colors, lines, and textures of Denise Strahm’s elemental photographs. Experience the enchanting silk paintings of Chinese watercolor artist Lucy Wang. Other mediums found here include jewelry, glass, quilts, and ceramics. One studio specializes in decorative eggs and kaleidoscopes. See the artists at work, enjoy their finished pieces, and maybe sign up for a class, as most of these creators are happy to share their techniques.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Place

Thumbprint Gallery

920 Kline Street #104, San Diego

San Diego boasts a vibrant street art scene with new works popping up daily — a week could easily be spent just driving around and discovering giant murals and sculptures. But if you want to focus on one artist at a time and mingle with fellow enthusiasts, try checking the lineup at Thumbprint Gallery. Here you’ll find work from both emerging and established artists whose contemporary pieces could be described as urban or pop surrealist. Much of it is rooted in punk music and edgy comic books, and often described as both lowbrow and awesome.

Place

Fallbrook Art Center

103 S. Main Avenue, Fallbrook

In the three galleries at Fallbrook Art Center, you’ll find exceptional and original visual art pieces, all by regional artists. Executive director Mary Perhacs loves the work she houses almost as much as the people who create it. All art in the center is for sale, and even the colorful, naturally lit gift shop boasts handmade works. Collectors accustomed to the high prices that quality work often fetches will be pleasantly surprised at the modest price tags here.

Place

St. Madeleine Sophie's Center

2119 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon

At St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities can take part in a program that allows them to communicate their thoughts and feelings via painting and mixed media. Though these artists may struggle in other areas of life, their genius is evident in their colorful, expressive work. You can view and buy their art at Sophie’s Gallery & Gift Shop at 109 Rea Avenue in downtown El Cajon. When you purchase a piece, you not only take home a special creation, you also support the program that made it possible. Artists earn a portion of the proceeds from every sale of their work, and the rest goes back to the center.

Place

Casa Valencia Galleria Baja

2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16 #101, San Diego

If you want to get a glimpse of the bustling art scene in Tijuana, you need go no further than Liberty Station. This is where, in the summer of 2012, Aida Valencia opened Casa Valencia: Galería Baja as part of her “Un paso al norte” (A step to the north) project, with a mission to expose more San Diegans to Baja artists. Valencia was born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana and is herself an artist, specializing in mosaics. Each show at Casa Valencia features more than one artist, and there are new exhibition receptions the first Friday of every month.

Place

Glashaus Artist Collective Warehouse

1815 Main Street, San Diego

On the last Saturday of every month from 4 to 10pm, art lovers flock to the Barrio Arts District for the Barrio Art Crawl. At Glashaus, a major stop along the way, they’ll happen upon the latest oeuvres to come out of the 20 artist studios on the premises. Artists at Glashaus, known as Hausers, work in all mediums, including photography, sculpture, painting, ceramics, and, yes, glass. Also on the crawl and not to be missed: the many studios at Bread & Salt, La Bodega Gallery, and Chicano Art Gallery.

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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