Upcoming Exhibitions
Step into Santa Cruz
2025 Members’ Exhibition
Friday, November 21 – Friday, December 19, 2025
Reception: First Friday, December 5, 5:00-7:30pm
Come celebrate the amazing members who make SCAL into the community of artistry and talent that we are! This exhibition showcases the artwork of our members at all levels in their artistic journeys.
This year’s exhibition will be the first Members’ Show with a theme. While not all of our members live in Santa Cruz, we encourage everyone to explore the idea of Santa Cruz as a way to bring cohesion to the exhibit. Your work might depict local landscapes or landmarks, reflect your experiences within our artistic community, express why you chose to join us as a member of the Santa Cruz Art League, or share your personal perspective on what Santa Cruz means to you, whether positive, critical, or somewhere in between. All interpretations are welcome, from abstract to literal, and as always, the Members’ Show is open to all mediums and styles.
Drop Off: November 14 & November 15 1-4pm
Pick Up: December 19, 4-6pm and December 20, 1-4pm
Yermo Aranda Retrospective
Wednesday, January 14 - Friday, February 20, 2026
First Friday Reception: February 6, 5:00-7:30pm
This exhibition showcases the vibrant and dramatic work of local multi-media artist Yerma Aranda. Known for his murals, Aranda was named Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year in 2021. His work is inspired by indigenous and aztec cultures.
Back and Forth
The Unintended Beauty of Textiles
Wednesday, March 4 - Friday, April 10, 2026
First Friday Reception: March 6, 5:00-7:30pm
Fiber artists often remark about how they like the backside of their work better than the front side that they planned, designed, and labored over. The backside of fiber arts pieces are often quite beautiful in an unexpected, unintentional, and raw way. In this exhibit textile artists will be invited to show two pieces - one piece shown with the intended side visible, and the other piece shown exposing the backside.
These artists each work with important themes such as identity, gender, race, invasive species, immigration, war, memory, ecology, etc. and although a great deal of thought, planning, and research go into their pieces, sometimes it is important to pause and appreciate the messy and unintended beauty of its making. The world is intense and exhausting these days, and I'm hoping that this exhibit will encourage visitors to pause, slow down, and look at the beauty that presents itself in unexpected places and ways.
High School Show
68th Annual Statewide Exhibition
Wednesday, April 22 - Friday, May 15, 2026
Reception: Saturday, April 25, 2:00-4:00pm
First Friday: May 1, 5:00-7:30pm
Since 1955, our annual High School Show has provided a professional gallery space for emerging artists across Santa Cruz County, now marking its 68th year. Each year, 80 to 200 students from public, private, charter, home, and at-risk schools showcase their creativity, many for the first time beyond the classroom. Over the decades, an estimated 8,400 young artists have benefited from this opportunity to share their voices and talents. This enduring tradition reflects the Art League’s grassroots commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists and inspiring them to dream big.
Curate This!
UCSC Internship Show
Wednesday, May 27 - Friday, June 5, 2026
First Friday: June 5, 5:00-7:30pm
SCAL is proud to host a wide variety of exhibitions spanning many mediums, themes, and age groups. We are thrilled to work with UCSC to provide an opportunity for student curators to achieve professional experience, and give college-aged artists from cross the Bay Area a chance to be featured in a professional gallery.
Next / Now
Mystery Work: Generations
Friday, June 12 - Friday, July 3, 2026
First Friday: July 3, 5:00-7:30pm
The title mystery work refers to the artistic process: one starts with an inspiration, an idea, an emotional response. By doing the work, one creates something material which is most often a surprise. That is the mystery and delight of it.
California Landscape Show
95th Annual Statewide Exhibition
Wednesday, July 15 - Friday, August 21, 2026
First Friday: August 7, 5:00-7:30pm
For nine decades, the Santa Cruz Art League’s Statewide Landscape Exhibition has showcased the work of artists who depict California’s foothills, mountains, seashores, and deserts of the interior and coastal regions. We’re proud to celebrate the beauty of our home state and the talent of its artists with this historic exhibition!
Open Studios Preview Show
Saturday, September 26 - Sunday, October 18, 2026
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 27, 1:00-4:00pm
First Friday: October 2, 5:00-7:30pm
The Annual Open Studios Art Tour is a county-wide tradition, hosted and sponsored by the Arts Council Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz Art League is thrilled to once again host the Open Studios Preview Exhibit, where Open Studios artists are invited to display an exemplary piece as a preview of their studio tour. Come see their work to get a head start on planning your tour, and pick up your artist postcards and studio guidebooks while you’re at it!
Luck of the Draw
Wednesday, October 28 - Saturday, November 7, 2026
First Friday: November 6, 5:00-7:30pm
Luck of the Draw Event: November 7, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Imagine walking away with an original, one-of-a-kind artwork while supporting the arts in our community. Luck of the Draw is our annual fundraiser, where ticket-holders are entered into a thrilling raffle where, when your number is called, you get to choose any of the available artwork! The anticipation builds as each ticket-holder selects their favorite piece from a wide range of incredible art—will your number be drawn next? This event is more than just a fundraiser; it’s an adrenaline-pumping celebration of creativity and community!
Members’ Show
Wednesday, November 18 - Friday, December 18, 2026
First Friday: December 4, 5:00-7:30pm
Come celebrate the amazing members who make SCAL into the community of artistry and talent that we are! This exhibition showcases the artwork of our members at all levels in their artistic journeys.
The Santa Cruz Art League has been able to maintain a space for artistic expression and growth since 1919, thanks to our extensive membership made up of artists from all walks of life. Through the Members’ Exhibition, we celebrate our present cohort and honor our past. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our dedicated members whose support has been instrumental in keeping our organization alive. As we draw the curtains on 2024, we take great pleasure in showcasing the exceptional talents of our diverse group of artists. Embrace the beauty of artistic expression in all its forms, as we welcome a myriad of mediums that is truly representative of our artistic community.