Spotlight Award Presented by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission Honoring Local Emerging Artists 2025 Spotlight Award Recipients Katie Simpson - mixed-media paintings Priscilla Martinez - mixed-media paintings & digital graphic design Kara Saiki - paper mache masks The awardees' work is featured at an exhibition on the 5th floor of the County Government Center […]

🎉 Grand Opening – North Coast Tintypes Photography Studio – Step into the Past. Celebrate the Present. Join us in celebrating the opening of a studio devoted to slow, intentional image-making, timeless craftsmanship, and analog beauty in a fast-paced digital world. 📅 Date: Friday, August 1st 🕒 Time: 5-9pm 📍 Location: Squid Row While no […]

Artist Taylor Seamount shares solar punk visions of our local landscapes. Sponsored by Anne's Cashew dip an Trini Badillas salsa! Come for the art, stay for some snacks. 5-8pm Exhibit open August 1- September 20. Gallery open Wednesday - Friday 2-6pm, Saturday 1-5pm.

The multidisciplinary exhibition "A True Thing Which Can Kill You"  features a female artist collective driven by the experiences around loss. Each artist infuses a mixture of humor, critique, and visual discomfort into work inviting viewers to encounter their fears, laugh at their delusions, and bear witness to the human experience of grief. Artists featured: […]

Brian Rounds Artist Statement Art has the power to instill in us a sense of belonging. When I was growing up in California, rapid suburban development resulted in a dichotomous landscape — places of commerce intermixed with patches of land left somewhat wild. While the grid of technology and commodity provides many benefits, the forests, […]

This body of work is a celebration between the sweetness of life and daily chores. Pointing at our freedom to really make it up. Appraising the power and limitlessness of feeling. Reminding you that movement is constantly demanded in order to play. That the order you might have in mind might magically change. That the only […]

First Friday at Santa Cruz Art Expressions Join us for a vibrant evening at Santa Cruz Art Expressions, featuring house artist Kelli C. Foss, known for her expressive use of color, layered emotion, and distinctive abstract style. Kelli’s newest works will be on view alongside a curated selection from guest artists. The evening includes: 🎨 […]

Come and join us for an incredible evening with live painting and live music. Friday, August 1 from 5 - 9 pm Om Gallery - 1201 Pacific Ave Conner Bouch, AKA Tie Dye Kid, was born into a family full of artists and has been doing art of every kind from for as long as […]

Anna Oneglia is a California based painter and printmaker. Her latest work, showing at Tumbleweed Found, stems from trips made to Japan over the last few years. A lover of slow travel, she enjoys returning to the same places, hoping to go deeper and see more. Here, she’s returning to Santa Cruz to show her […]

This event will be showcasing the Broprints staff's creative talents. Featuring Repurposed UFO paintings and Painted Lily series from John Diaz. Paintings, T'shirts, Skateboards from Griffin Hennessy. (He will also be doing caricature drawings if you'd like to have yours done) T'shirts from Jack Boynton, Plus Jack and Griffin's debut of their first Zine. Drawings […]

We are pleased to have Sarah at the Tasting Room this summer! What a treat! Come by and see her colorful landscapes, enjoy a world class glass of wine, and perhaps one of our famous Pinza's? Or some lighter fare of a charcuterie platter? If you are feeling really creative-- sign up for Sarah's Paint […]

🎉 Happy 5-Year Anniversary to M.K. Contemporary! 🎉
 Join us this First Friday, August 1st, 6–8pm We’re turning five, and we would love for you to celebrate with us! This August, M.K. Contemporary is proud to mark five years of supporting and showcasing local and regional artists in Santa Cruz. What started as a dream […]

🎨 First Friday Santa Cruz at Solaire Friday, August 1 | 6–8 PM Solaire Restaurant + Bar Join us for First Friday at Solaire as we feature the vibrant and visionary work of Rachel Corvese, a Central California native known for her large-scale murals and fine art in acrylic and oil. Drawing from nature, philosophy, […]

Join us for First Friday at the Homeless Garden Project Store! Friday, August 1st | 6–8:30 PM 1338 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz Meet local quilt artist Nana Montgomery and browse her beautiful handmade quilts. Learn about our mission and CSA program Enjoy samples of our Chocolate Rosemary Brownie's made with our HGP baking mix Sip, […]

For First Friday in August, Artisans & agency is thrilled to feature Honolulu-based artist Kris Goto. With roots in Japan and a life shaped by time in Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Hawai‘i, Kris brings a global lens to island life. Her dreamy, inked surf scenes blend manga-inspired detail with local Hawaiian culture—where surfer girls […]

We are closed this First Friday, August 1st-3rd, for Jerry's Birthday. We will be celebrating in Golden Gate Park. Please, join us for a special event honoring Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, the Second Friday! Friday ,August 8th, 5-8pm. for all things Jerry Garcia and talk about his intentions and cultural movement with some […]