Join us for this special First Friday event commemorating Kuumbwa Jazz’s 50th anniversary. Enjoy the premiere of Celebrating Creativity, an exhibit spanning 50 years of Kuumbwa archives, including posters, photos, and historical ephemera. At 6 PM there will be a conversation with Kuumbwa co-founder Tim Jackson and Bay Area vocalist Kim Nalley, exploring Kuumbwa’s history […]

Stripe is thrilled to rejoin the First Friday art tour! We are kicking things off with a show featuring the vibrant, intricate collages of Katell Le Bourdonnec, and a pop-up with Anne Vantalon, who will be bringing her gorgeous paper flowers. Katell Le Bourdonnec is a French artist based in Santa Cruz, California. "I strongly […]

Join us on Thursday, May 2nd for a magical evening at the historic Santa Cruz Hostel, nestled in the charming Carmelita Cottages. We're celebrating First Friday with an inspiring mix of art, live music, and local culture—and you’re invited! Featured Artist: Explore the bold and evocative sculptures of Jeff Arnett, a local poet and sculptor […]

Bridget Henry is a California based printmaker known for her hand carved woodcuts. Her work often explores the intersections of nature, perception, and transformation. Drawing from both ecological themes and personal experience, she uses traditional printmaking techniques to explore questions about how we define and relate to the world around us. Friend or Foe is […]

Donna Maurillo Photography | Visions from My Third Eye Visual art is music for our eyes. It can make us feel empathy, wonder, happiness, love, sadness, and all the other emotions available to humans. And like music, it has color, tone, movement, mood, and much more. When I view the world through my camera, I […]

Michael Leeds hosts a Spring Open House! He will unveil his newest creation, the "Space Cowboy." It is an interplanetary, interdimensional object with a time-travel option from the factory. Hold on to your hats, this baby runs! This is a rare and special occasion - not to miss!

Featured artist, Elizabeth Lee is a Hapa abstract painter working primarily in acrylics. Elizabeth often blends imagery from her Chinese heritage with more contemporary styles and themes. She loves abstraction because it uses the energy of color to create a visceral experience for the viewer. Her approach can be considered shamanistic with the living work […]

The Underground Network:Magic of Mycelium May 2-June 28,2025 Receptions for the artists: May2 and June 6 from 5 to 8pm Gallery Hours: Thurs-Sun 11 to 6pm Free and open to the public

In a society obsessed with shiny newness, there are those who are instead drawn to crusty found objects reclaimed from the dark underbelly of our throw-away culture. Sometimes these things just need a little dusting off or rearranging, and Mark Cunningham, Jonathan Steinberg, and Ethan Estess are the folks for the job. Unfortunately, global plastic […]

Sure! Here’s a polished announcement you can use: ⸻ First Friday at Santa Cruz Art Expressions Friday, May 2 | 5–9 PM Pacific Avenue, Downtown Santa Cruz Join us for a vibrant evening of art, music, and community at Santa Cruz Art Expressions! Doors open at 5 PM—come explore inspiring local artwork, sip on refreshments, […]

Join us for The Contemporary Nude, an evening of figure-focused charcoal drawings and oil paintings by local artists Pedro Rodriguez and Emmanuel Cervantes Mejia. The work was developed through ongoing figure drawing sessions around Santa Cruz, showcasing a range of studies and finished pieces focused on anatomy, gesture, and form. Enjoy good company, local art, […]

The Arts Council Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education teamed up again to organize the annual Youth Art Exhibit at the Santa Cruz County Government Center! The artwork is currently on display now through May 5, 2025! This year, we have 500 pieces of student art from across the county […]

We’re celebrating the beauty of nature through the eyes of Carissa Rose, our former store manager and dear friend! While she won’t be there in person, her stunning giclée prints and cards—all created from flowers and plants grown in her Pacific Northwest garden—will be on display and available for purchase. Join us on Friday, May […]

First Friday of May at MK Contemporary Art - May 2, 6 to 8 PM In partnership with Santa Cruz Pride, honoring the 50th Anniversary Celebration, "Here to Eternity", a bold and moving celebration of queer creativity and expression, (we will also be hosting an Artist Reception, Saturday May 3rd, 4-6PM). Featuring work by local […]

"My quilts are a chance for me to learn from my materials and to give them a second life. Most of my fabric is sourced second-hand from places like the Fábrica or local thrift stores. I incorporate natural dyes, some of which are locally foraged, and the slow and steady practice of hand quilting, which […]

First Friday at the Homeless Garden Project Store Featuring Sylvia Valentine’s “HeartFelt & Found” Mixed Media Floral Art Friday, May 2 | 6:00–8:30 PM 1338 Pacific Ave., Downtown Santa Cruz Join us for First Friday in Downtown Santa Cruz and celebrate the arrival of spring with local art, good food, and a deeper mission. The […]

Little Giant Collective presents Out of Office - Works by Mike Bencze Since 2016, Mike Bencze has been documenting hiking trips and interpreting landscapes through illustration and silkscreen prints. His style is filtered through the lens of comic books and graphic novels, utilizing detailed linework, stylized effects, and rich colors. Each piece serves as a […]