San Francisco. Los Angeles. San Diego. Laguna Beach. Carmel-by-the-Sea. These are a few of the places that come to mind when we think of major art destinations and long-established artist enclaves in California. But did you know that the Golden State is also home to 14 officially designated Cultural Districts? These locales, spread across the state, were selected by the California Arts Council in 2017 for their unique artistic identities and commitment to culture and the arts. In late 2025, California designated an additional 10 cultural districts, bringing the current total to 24.
The Pacific Coast Highway cuts through the coast in Big Sur, California. Photograph by Kyle Johnson.Before we introduce you to some of our favorite California galleries, artists and arts organizations, we are going to take you on a tour of the original recognized cultural centers, neighborhoods you can find in all of California’s larges metropolises as well as in smaller communities a short drive away.
From north to south, here are the cities and towns where you can explore California’s official Cultural Districts. Want to know more? Visit www.caculturaldistricts.org.
Sundial Bridge. Courtesy California Culture Districts.Redding
Nearly 70 public art installations and more than 50 dining establishments, bars and coffee shops can be found in historic downtown Redding, a city 160 miles north of Sacramento, where nature and culture intertwine. The art deco-style Cascade Theatre and Redding Civic Auditorium host a range of regional, national and international performing artists; while art and cultural installations can be experienced in Turtle Bay Exploration Park, the Art Hunger Gallery, Old City Hall and Carter House Art Gallery. The town’s remarkable trail system connects the McConnell Arboretum and the Sundial Bridge, a glass art walkway across the Sacramento River and one of the world’s largest working sundials.
The Carson Mansion. Photo by Becque Olsen. Courtesy Visit Redwoods.
Eureka
Located the heart of redwood country on California’s North Coast, about halfway between Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, Eureka is most famous for its unique Victorian architecture, creative culture, one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and artisanal businesses. Every month, the downtown area hosts First Saturday Night Arts Alive!, which features more than 75 art-focused sites and businesses. Other seasonal events include the Redwood Coast Music Festival, Taste of Main Street, summer concerts and more. Outside of this artsy town, surrounding Humboldt County is full of hiking trails, forests, beaches and quaint fishing villages to explore.
Interior of the Nevada Theatre, California’s oldest theater. Photo by Akim Aginsky. Courtesy Nevada Theatre, Nevada City, CA.
Grass Valley- Nevada City
Located in the most famous gold-mining district in California, Grass Valley and Nevada City began its transformation into a vibrant art community in the 1960s when prominent Beat Generation artists, writers and musicians, including poet Gary Snyder and singer Utah Phillips, traded city life for the natural beauty and peace of the Sierra foothills. An influx of talent followed, and a creative spirit continues to course through the area to this day. Between them, Grass Valley and Nevada City are home to the oldest theater in California, and more than 100 arts-related organizations producing upwards of 1,000 events a year, from festivals to street fairs, art walks and studio tours, and a strong base of local artists and artisans.
Downtown Truckee. Courtesy Visit Truckee Tahoe.
Truckee
Nestled in the beautiful High Sierra, Truckee attracts more than just outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Like a lot of California’s Cultural Districts that lie outside of the major cities, its natural beauty is the foundation of its thriving art scene. This charming mountain town near Lake Tahoe was already designated a historic district when it earned the additional distinction of a Cultural District. Beyond the draw of Truckee’s fascinating role in the era of westward expansion and as the site of the ill-fated Donner Party, today the town is filled with an abundance of entrepreneurial and artistic talent and boasts over a dozen art galleries and exhibition spaces, year-round artistic and cultural events and public art displays. In 2016, the Truckee Roadhouse was established, a 3,000-square-foot “makerspace” that offers the community opportunities to learn and practice a wide variety of art and creative skills.
An example of a mud flat sculpture, ca 1977. Courtesy San Francisco Chronicle.
Emeryville
Positioned on the East Bay’s shore between Berkeley and Oakland, Emeryville sits directly across from San Francisco on the eastern end of the Bay Bridge. A somewhat unique cultural designation, the Rotten City-Emeryville Cultural District is a center of art production, including animation, digital/video mapping compositions and using light as a medium. The Emeryville arts colony began when “mud flat art”—large, anonymous folk sculptures made from driftwood, trash and found objects—began appearing on its shores in the 1960s andcontinued into the 1980s. As the region transitioned out of heavy industry, artists populated the affordable warehouse spaces and a nexus of creativity was born.
Harvested Hopes by Venazir Martinez. Photo courtesy SOMA Pilipinas.
San Francisco
San Francisco is home to two cultural districts. The Calle 24 Latino Cultural District is centered in the Mission District, where Latino culture, arts and activism have defined the area since the 1940s. Today, the most murals in San Francisco can be found in Calle 24, as well as plenty of events and specialty businesses to keep the neighborhood brimming with creative energy. SOMA Pilipinas, Filipino Cultural Heritage District is a South of Market neighborhood home to thousands of Filipino families, with multiple Filipino-American businesses (including one of two Filipino-owned bookstores in the country, and Bindlestiff Studio, the only dedicated Filipino-American performance space). Both Calle 24 and SOMA Pilipinas host colorful cultural events all year long, showcasing and celebrating area performers, artists, culinary traditions, small businesses and cultural heritage.
San Raphael Church, San Rafael, CA. Courtesy California Cultural Districts.
San Rafael
The cultural hub of Marin County, San Rafael hosts an abundance of events from art walks and festivals to institutions like the Falkirk Cultural Center and the Arts Works Downtown, an arts center with four galleries, more than two dozen artists’ studios and even artist housing. In the downtown arts district, concentrated on Fourth Street, visitors will find numerous arts-related organizations including the California Film Institute—home to the Mill Valley Film Festival—Youth in Arts, providing visual and performing arts training for children and a gallery for young artists, as well as a robust events schedule, including Second Fridays Art Walk.
San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. Photo by Mike Machin. Courtesy California Cultural Districts.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles has two designated cultural districts. Those exploring Little Tokyo will find an eclectic array of anime shops, poetry venues and historic landmarks, among a vibrant blend of traditional Asian artwork and contemporary creations. Take a Little Tokyo walking tour to explore the Frank Gehry-designed Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Be sure to sample the signature ramen at Men Oh Tokushima Ramen, and sip a cocktail while watching a burlesque show at The Edison. San Pedro Waterfront Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment District in San Pedro, a Los Angeles peninsula town, has a small-town feel, where the historic downtown has been hosting artist studios since 1944. You can see the artistic influence at Crafted, a permanent weekend market with handmade apparel and home decor, in the nontraditional spaces for art openings and classes, and during First Thursday ArtWalk.
The San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa Park. Courtesy Go City.
San Diego
San Diego is home to three of California’s Cultural Districts: Oceanside, Balboa Park and Barrio Logan. Oceanside Cultural District, located in San Diego’s North County, is no longer limited to its identity as a military town and is now being recognized for its flourishing art scene. The California Surf Museum celebrates the local surf culture; performing arts can be enjoyed in historic venues like the Star and Brooks theaters, and the local arts are highlighted in numerous annual events. The 1,200 acres that comprise the Balboa Park Cultural District includes 17 museums, and multiple performance venues, as well as the world-famous zoo, botanical gardens and more that 60 miles of nature trails. Barrio Logan Cultural District is a grassroots coalition of artists, community leaders and residents dedicated to keeping Chicano culture alive. Find 79 historic murals in Chicano Park, providing a colorful setting for myriad cultural events. The neighborhood also boasts galleries, cafés and breweries that showcase local art.
Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH), Lancaster, CA. Photo by Britt Elexandria. Courtesy Visit Lancaster.
Lancaster
Located in Northern Los Angeles County, about 70 miles north of downtown L.A., Lancaster is the cultural center of Antelope Valley, which sits on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. The BLVD Cultural District is a multi-block stretch in the historic downtown known as the arts and entertainment district. On the BLVD visitors will find the Lancaster Museum of Art & History (MOAH), a free institution presenting diverse exhibitions of contemporary, historic and Native American art. The neighborhood also has a bevy of galleries, restaurants and boutiques, in addition to an upscale bowling alley and luxury-style cinema.+++
Arts District Liberty Station
2820 Roosevelt Road San Diego, CA 92106 (619) 573-9300
info@libertystation.com
www.libertystation.com
Top: Arts District Liberty Station, Juxtaposition II, oil on panel, 14 x 11 in., by Lisa Bryson; San Diego Watercolor Society’s 45th International Exhibition, October 2025. Photo by Tracy Sestilli. Bottom: Aerial view of Arts District Liberty Station. Photo by Malik Earnest.
Arts District Liberty Station—San Diego’s vibrant and continually expanding arts community—showcases original, bold and expressive work. In September, the district welcomed Cygnet Theatre, adding to a dynamic campus where dancers, actors and more than 40 visual artists create and teach in the historic former Naval Training Center buildings. Visitors enjoy exploring outdoor spaces, engaging in interactive experiences and discovering a wide range of artistic disciplines.
Among the District’s notable artists is Weston Riffle. Throughout 2025, Riffle exhibited across Southern California, offering understated imagery in agricultural settings, reflecting on life’s complexities. Anne Gaffey, a nationally recognized mixed media artist and instructor, will return to Little Italy ArtWalk in April, as will Lisa Bryson, whose richly textured works appear in exhibitions nationwide. Through deliberate manipulation of physical form, her art explores complexities in the state of being. Colleen Veltz features interactive installations through April, inviting audiences to touch, pour and stack components of the artwork. Her new abstract series reflects an emotional journey toward inner peace and the calming influence of nature.
A cornerstone arts organization, San Diego Watercolor Society offers a robust schedule of classes, workshops from national masters, and monthly juried exhibitions. SDWS draws global talent, especially during their Plein Air show in June and International Exhibition in October. First Fridays remain a popular draw, offering new exhibitions, hands-on activities and community events. A calendar of upcoming programs is available at www.libertystation.com.
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David Patchen Hand Blown Glass
San Francisco, CA
(650) 740-9794
david@davidpatchen.com
www.davidpatchen.com
IG: davidspatchen
David Patchen, Anemone Piscine, blown glass; murine and zanfirico cane, 22 x 7½ x 3 in.; David Patchen, Teal Foglio, blown glass; murine and zanfirico cane, 22 x 13 x 4 in
David Patchen is renowned for his vivid, intricate glass creations, characterized by meticulous craftsmanship and mastery of murrine and cane techniques. His distinctive style combines creativity with technical precision, resulting in vibrant, expressive designs that are immediately recognizable as his. Working actively in seven series, Patchen’s work includes blown vessels and solid sculptures, which dramatically freeze the undulating motion of thousands of threads of color within molten glass.
Patchen’s work is exhibited worldwide, featured in prominent private collections and museums and is documented in his book, David Patchen, Glass. After 20-plus years in corporate marketing, Patchen took a glassblowing class in 2001, which ignited a passion to transition his career to pursue making glass art full-time.
David Patchen, Cerulean/Lime Thread Ellipse, blown glass; murine and zanfirico cane, 19 x 14 x 4 in.
Primarily self-taught, Patchen’s artistic journey was influenced by observing local artists and visits with maestro Afro Celotto, a former assistant to Lino Tagliapietra in Murano, Italy. He has been a guest artist at the Corning Museum of Glass, Tacoma Museum of Glass, and in Seto City, Japan, where he lectured and demonstrated his craft.
Inspired by travel, nature, fashion and science, the artist lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family.
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Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters
650 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(800) 487-33, www.festivalofarts.org
Visitors explore artwork from local artists at the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show. Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, Laguna Light, oil on canvas, 12 x 16 in., by Michael Situ.
This summer, the Festival of Arts returns to Laguna Beach, one of Southern California’s most celebrated arts destinations, with the 2026 Fine Art Show and Pageant of the Masters. From July 7 to September 4, the open-air Festival of Arts Fine Art Show invites visitors to explore works by more than 100 award-winning Orange County artists. From vivid paintings and striking ceramics to glass, photography and more, all available for purchase straight from the artists. Alongside the artwork, enjoy live demonstrations, music, art workshops and special events that inspire collectors and casual visitors alike.
A recreation of Johannes Vermeer’s The Art of Painting will be showcased in the 2026 Pageant of the Masters show.
The 2026 Pageant of the Masters, running July 9 through September 4, brings art to life with breathtaking tableaux vivants, where real people pose as famous works accompanied by music and narration. This year’s show, “The Greatest of All Time,” celebrates the artists and masterpieces that have shaped art history. From Michelangelo and Monet to Picasso, Kahlo and Rockwell, each living picture transforms the stage into a dazzling display of creativity, wonder and spectacle.
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Judy Lew Loose
Folsom, CA
watercolordots@gmail.com
www.lewloose.com
Judy Lew Loose, Almond Valley Snow, watercolor on Aquabord, 25 x 36 in.
For more than four decades, Judy Lew Loose has pushed the boundaries of watercolor, elevating the medium through innovative techniques and a bold, contemporary use of color. A pioneer in her field, she has given her work a new name—Kaleidos Painting—from the Greek kalos (beautiful) and eidos (form), reflecting both its visual energy and purpose.
Loose’s paintings are widely collected by public art programs, hospitals, professional organizations and private collectors. She has a rare ability to heighten the drama of a single moment, using color with intention, bachelor’s fine arts from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Over time, her artistic voice has evolved alongside her personal journey. Known for expressive light and luminous color, Judy seeks to reveal the inner spark of her subjects and invite viewers into a shared emotional experience. She is dedicated to positioning watercolor on equal footing with oil painting. Her transition to Aquabord—allowing for vivid color without glass—has further distinguished her work, offering a fresh, contemporary viewing experience inspired by nature. “My desire,” Loose says, “is for you to find hope, meaning, and healing in my paintings.”
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Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
LPAPA Gallery 414 N. Coast Highway Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 376-3635, info@lpapa.org
www.lpapa.org
Top: Laguna Plein Air Painters Association’s LPAPA Gallery in Laguna Beach, Ca. Bottom: Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Pacific Palette, pastel, 12 x 16 in., by Aaron Schuerr. Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Full Moon Over High Drive, oil, 9 x 12 in., by Michael Obermeyer.
The Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) proudly stewards the century-old tradition of plein air painting that built Laguna Beach into an artists colony. LPAPA’s mission is advanced by a dedicated and diverse membership of artists that spans regional, national and international communities.
In 2026, the LPAPA Gallery will host an impressive eight exhibitions, including six juried shows. Highlights include the annual Signature Showcase in February featuring original works created by LPAPA Signature Artists, and the prestigious 22nd Annual Best of Plein Air in March. An exciting collaboration arrives in April with a juried art show inspired by the Laguna Art Museum’s historical Frank Cuprien exhibition, For the Love of the Sea. LPAPA’s flagship event, the 28th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational—a nine-day festival—takes place during the week of October 3 through 11.
Art sales are vital, benefitting the artists and sustaining the nonprofit’s year-round art and education programs. LPAPA is a global community, welcoming artists from every corner of the world. Learn more about LPAPA and explore their exhibitions at www.lpapa.org.
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Larry R. Rankin
Buellton, CA, (805) 944-8259
art@larryrrankin.com
www.larryrrankin.com
Larry R. Rankin, Wild Song, bronze, 36 x 17 x 17 in. Larry R. Rankin, Renaissance, bronze, 28 x 30 x 15 in.
Larry R. Rankin, a distinguished sculptor based in Buellton, California, has carved a significant niche in the world of contemporary art with his evocative and powerful works. His sculptures, characterized by towering shapes and forms, are more than mere physical constructs; they are profound expressions of his life experiences and introspections. This unique approach has earned him prestigious accolades, including Best in Show at the Las Vegas International Art Show, and being selected to participate in the elite Shanghai International Art Fair.
Rankin’s artistic journey is deeply intertwined with his personal history, including his service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. His sculptures, made from stone, wood and bronze are a therapeutic outlet through which he navigates the complex tapestry of his post-war experiences. The intrinsic motivation and self-expression that drive his art are evident in every piece he creates, offering both artist and viewer a pathway to understanding and emotional connection.
Larry R. Rankin, Rock N’ Roll, bronze with granite base, 36 x 27 x 10 in.
His pieces are celebrated for their powerful and unusual designs, reflecting his profound love of family, humor and an intricate understanding of abstract and non-objective forms. Rankin’s sculptures can be found in both public and private spaces, from sculpture gardens and corporate settings to family homes. His sculptures offer a sanctuary of serenity and strength, resonating with those who seek beauty and peace in an ever-changing world. His story and art serve as a reminder of the unseen scars of veterans, urging us to honor their contributions and sacrifices.
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Michael James
San Jacinto, CA
www.michaeljamesart.com
IG: @MichaelJamesArt
Michael James, From His Hands to Your Table, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30 in. Michael James, Rosa, Seated (Big Orange Chair), acrylic on canvas, 20 x 16 in.
“Working with Michael James has brought a strong contemporary presence into Covet Art Gallery,” says Laurie King, owner of the Oceanside, California, gallery. “His paintings sit at the intersection of vivid realism and modern restraint, confident compositions shaped by an intuitive and purposeful use of color. For Michael, color isn’t ornamental; it drives the structure and emotional tone of each piece. His work creates moments the viewer can step into sometimes quiet and personal, sometimes expansive, but always alive with light and movement.
“Michael’s paintings add real depth to our exhibitions,” King continues. “They offer narrative without being literal and emotion without excess. There’s a clarity and confidence in his mark-making and a sensitivity to how color and form interact on the canvas. His work consistently draws people in, encouraging them to pause, look longer, and come back. That kind of engagement is what makes his work an essential part of our program.”
Rosa, Seated is a portrait of James’ favorite model sitting in her big orange chair in a small cottage by the lake in Three Rivers, Wisconsin. “She was not amused,” says James.
From his Hands to Your Table is part of James’ Migrant Farmworkers series which addresses the crucial role these communities play in the U.S. economy and how the fruits of their labor end up on our tables to feed our families.
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Kline Academy of Fine Art
3264 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 837-7194
staff@klineacademy.com
www.klineacademy.com
A drawing session in one of Kline Academy’s studios. Kline Academy employs a cast drawing/painting method in its Classical Drawing and Painting class to teach students how to deconstruct shadow and light shapes.
Walking into Kline Academy of Fine Art feels like you are walking into a European atelier. Throughout the studio are historic plaster casts for teaching an academic style of drawing and painting. Moving into the courtyard you are comforted by plants, flowers and the sound of a splashing fountain. In the main studio there is natural light from above, an essential feature for drawing and painting the live model and learning to mix skin tones. A skill-based, private art school, Kline Academy offers a menu of programs and classes in both classical fine art, contemporary painting, printmaking and sculpture, providing students of all ages and levels an understanding of how to create great art by focusing on skills first and learning historic, step-by-step techniques. The academy’s artist instructors are masters of their craft and pride themselves on tailoring their instruction to each individual who comes to study.
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Mitchell Johnson
Menlo Park, CA
mitchell.catalog@gmail.com
www.mitchelljohnson.com
IG: mitchell_johnson_artist
Top: Three Windows (Medford), 2023, oil on canvas, 54 x 96 in. From 450 Sutter, 2019, oil on canvas, 78 x 120 in. Bottom: Cape Porpoise, 2014, oil on canvas, 78 x 120 in.
Mitchell Johnson’s artwork will be featured in three exhibitions in early 2026. In two separate locations in San Francisco, his large new England landscapes are on view through April 3, while his large-scale abstract and landscape paintings are on view through April 10. A collection of his small works will be shown at Galerie Mercier in Paris from February 28 through March 21.
In 2024, art critic Donald Kuspit wrote about Johnson’s paintings in Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art: “Where Cezanne was a proto-modernist, making representational works that were implicitly abstract, Johnson is a post-modernist, making abstract works that are implicitly—often explicitly—representational…Johnson is a master of abstraction, as his oddly constructivist paintings show, but of unconscious feeling, for his geometry serves to contain and with that control the strong feelings implicit in his strong colors. Apart from that, his paintings are art historically important, because they seamlessly fuse abstraction and realism, which Kandinsky tore apart to the detriment of both, even as he recognized that they were implicitly inseparable, tied together in a Gordian knot, as they masterfully are in Johnson’s paintings.”
Johnson’s paintings are in 700 private collections and the permanent collection of 40 museums. His work has been the subject of two museum retrospectives and has appeared in numerous feature films including The Family McMullen (2025), The Holiday (2006), It’s Complicated (2011) and Crazy Stupid Love (2012).
“My paintings are about color and color perception. The beach chairs, the buildings, the stuff, are just scaffolding for color,” says Johnson. “I don’t actually make paintings of Cape Cod or Paris or San Francisco. I appreciate that other people experience the paintings as being referential. I’m very grateful that people want to live with them. And that so many people want to take my color class. It’s important to see my paintings in person. Their uniqueness and subtlety are lost in reproduction and on the phone screen.”
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Rose Irelan
Poway, CA
roseirelan.art@gmail.com
www.roseirelan.com
Top: Billowing Surge, oil, 8 x 10 in. Bottom: Reverent Echoes of Yosemite Valley, oil, 20 x 24 in., Unbound, oil, 16 x 20 in.
Painting the California coast is a spiritual act for Rose Irelan; a quiet communion with nature. “I am drawn to the way light drifts across water and stone, how color softens, deepens and shifts with atmosphere, and how fleeting moments carry lasting emotion,” says Irelan. “Studying these relationships has been a lifelong pursuit, grounded in close observation, practice and intention.
Irelan paints in plein air as much as possible, where all of her senses are engaged. “These studies are done quickly, yet deliberately, with a clear focus on capturing the essential light, color and feeling of a moment before it changes,” she explains. “They are not about detail, but about clarity, structure and truth.”
In the studio, these plein air studies become the foundation for larger works. “I spend significant time developing composition, design and carefully considered color palettes, refining and strengthening the initial impression while allowing it to expand on a grander scale,” Irelan says.
“My hope is that the paintings resonate beyond the visual. I want my art to feel like music—softening, deepening and shifting with atmosphere—inviting viewers to experience the beauty and emotion of the landscape in a deeply personal way.” —
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