By Robin Jones 

 

Plenty of cities in Orange County boast a vibrant arts scene, but Santa Ana stands out from them all with its dedication to edgy and eclectic work. Museums and galleries alike spotlight BIPOC and LGBTQ artists and represent a wide range of artistic styles, from avant-garde performance art to more traditional fine art.

 

GCS Murals

 

Artists Village

The section of downtown Santa Ana bound by First, Fourth, Bush, and Birch Streets has been a haven for artists since the 1980s (see sidebar). The art studios here are typically closed to the public, but many open during the Downtown Santa Ana Artwalk, held the first Saturday of each month from 6-10 p.m. 

 

AvantGarden the Art Gallery

A wide array of art, from oil paintings and sculpture to art photography, glassware, and jewelry, line the walls at this North Broadway gallery.

 

Bowers Museum

 

Bowers Museum

Centered on O.C. history when it opened in 1936, this institution remade itself in the late 1980s to focus on how art influences cultures around the world. Permanent exhibits look at art and artifacts from California, the Pacific Islands, Mexico, and China; rotating exhibits have highlighted everything from high fashion to documentary photography to the Walt Disney archives. 

 

Crear Studio

Originally opened in the basement of the Grand Central Arts Center, this studio moved to Fifth and Broadway in 2021. It’s owned by Sarah Rafael Garcia, who also owns the LibroMobile bookstore, and aims to spotlight local artists of color.

 

Grand Central Arts Building

 

Grand Central Art Center

Cal State Fullerton’s College of the Arts partners with the City of Santa Ana to run this gallery anchoring the Second Street Promenade. Three galleries, a video project gallery, and a project wall feature contemporary and socially relevant artwork, installations, and performances. 

 

Murals

Santa Ana’s commitment to public art is obvious; just walk down any street or alley downtown, or drive around the city, and you’ll soon stumble upon a colorful mural.

 

Mural Virgin Mary

 

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art

One of the first galleries to open when downtown Santa Ana was revitalized in the 1990s, this space recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. It hosts solo exhibits, as well as group shows built around themes like car culture, music, and architecture in art.

 

occca building

 

Santora Arts Building

Home to multiple art studios and galleries, this 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival building at the corner of Second Street and Broadway houses the Santa Ana College Gallery, which hosts an annual High School Invitational highlighting the art of local high school students, and the California Center for Digital Arts, which offers photography and multimedia classes.