A reading list of essays, criticism, and press about San Diego–area art — gathered from across local and national outlets.
Updated October 5, 2026 · 95 pieces
Sees Journal doesn’t republish these pieces — each title links out to the publication that ran it. Spot something we missed? Send it our way.
Highlights of San Diego's weekend arts events, featuring the 2026 San Diego Art Prize exhibition 'Soft Power: On Color, Time, and Resistance' at the Oceanside Museum of Art. — Oceanside Museum of Art
by Julia Dixon Evans
Introduction to San Diego Magazine's September 2026 Arts issue, featuring 190 local artists, makers, builders, and doers.
by Aaryn Belfer
Announces the opening of 'The Giving Tree,' a group exhibition curated by Jill Dawsey, featuring artists from the San Diego-Tijuana region. — Art Produce Gallery
An interview with Indianapolis-based visual artist Julie Xiao, discussing her inspirations and upcoming exhibition at the Penrod Arts Fair.
An overview of upcoming San Diego arts events, including the 'Becoming Heirlooms' exhibition at the San Diego Central Library's ninth-floor art gallery. — San Diego Central Library
by Julia Dixon Evans
Highlights upcoming arts events in San Diego, including the KPBS Book Festival and SAMAFEST 2026.
by Julianna Domingo
A critique of the integration of AI-generated elements in a Matisse exhibition at SF MoMA, questioning the impact on public visual culture.
Highlights upcoming visual art events in San Diego, including Margaret Noble's installation 'Drift' at the Timken Museum of Art. — Timken Museum of Art
by Julia Dixon Evans
The 'Giants' exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, featuring works from Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz's collection, attracted 25,000 visitors since April, setting a new attendance record for the museum. — Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Highlights include 'Within the Context of Time' at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla, closing with a sound journey event, featuring artwork by May-ling Martinez. — Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla
by Julia Dixon Evans
Highlights include 'PHOSPHENE,' a four-person exhibition at Art Produce in North Park, featuring works by artists like Pastelle, exploring themes of identity and perception. — Art Produce, North Park
by Julia Dixon Evans
An exhibition titled 'Fragmented Stories' at Gallery 201 features local artists Eden DeLaVara and Marcela Alarcón López, who explore themes of identity, history, and the body as women of color through painting and textiles. — Gallery 201, Arts District Liberty Station
by Audy McAfee
The San Diego Natural History Museum presents 'Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea,' featuring 25 marine-creature sculptures made entirely from beach trash. — San Diego Natural History Museum
by Julia Dixon Evans
Features 'The Hands That Feed Us' by Jimmy Dorantes, an exhibition focusing on farmworkers and laborers along the border. — The Photographer's Eye, Escondido
by Julia Dixon Evans
Highlights include artist Kate Tova's exhibition 'A Place to Rest (My Tired Mind)' at Oceanside Museum of Art, where she connects the regrowth of local flora after fires to healing from burnout through vivid, impressionistic floral landscapes. — Oceanside Museum of Art
by Julia Dixon Evans
Art Spectrum at Gallery 21 in Balboa Park features works by a dozen professional San Diego LGBTQ+ artists, marking a significant moment affirming LGBTQ+ people's place in the local art scene. — Gallery 21, Balboa Park
by Drew Sitton
Features the opening of 'Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys' at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, showcasing over 130 works by Black diaspora artists. — Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
by Julia Dixon Evans
MCASD's 'Giants' exhibition showcases a diverse range of works by Black diaspora artists, including an adjacent exhibit featuring local photography. — Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
by Julia Dixon Evans
UC San Diego’s Mandeville Art Gallery hosts 'Full Circle,' an exhibition revisiting Faith Ringgold’s story quilts, paintings, and legacy of visual storytelling, including her award-winning 1991 children’s book 'Tar Beach.' — Mandeville Art Gallery, UC San Diego
by Aaryn Belfer
An exhibition featuring 40 artworks by members of OMA's Artist Alliance, exploring themes of contrast and tension at Woodward Contemporary in Old Town San Diego. — Woodward Contemporary, Old Town San Diego
An exhibition of large-scale, monochromatic photographs by Chanell Stone, reflecting on the Mississippi River's role in the transatlantic slave trade. — San Diego Museum of Art
Features Josh MacPhee's 'Paper Politics' exhibition at Burn All Books' & Friends Gallery, showcasing risograph prints used in protests. — & Friends Gallery
by Julia Dixon Evans
Features artist Aaron Kramer's exhibition 'Sense of Wonder' at Oceanside Museum of Art, showcasing found-object sculptures that evoke nostalgia and curiosity, appealing to both art aficionados and inquisitive children. — Oceanside Museum of Art
by Julia Dixon Evans
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego hosts 'Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,' featuring over 130 works by 37 Black American and diasporic artists from Africa, Europe, the U.S., and the Caribbean. — Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
by City News Service
The La Jolla Historical Society's 'Space Maker' exhibition explores the intersection of design and creativity through the works of various artists. — La Jolla Historical Society
by Julia Dixon Evans
An overview of Ken Gun Min's third solo exhibition, 'Strange Days of a Quiet Sun,' highlighting his vibrant paintings and a monumental folding screen.
The essay examines how border walls serve as both infrastructures of violence and arenas for artistic resistance, focusing on the U.S.-Mexico border and the role of art in fostering solidarity and re-presentation. — U.S.-Mexico border
by Rashad Arman Timmons
Previews the 2026 MCASD Art Auction, featuring works by artists like John Baldessari, Niki de Saint Phalle, and Ed Ruscha. — Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
by Julia Dixon Evans
Attendees praise the 'Art of Banksy: Without Limits' exhibition at Del Mar Fairgrounds for its immersive experience and engaging visitor interactions. — Del Mar Fairgrounds
An exhibition showcasing local artists' reinterpretations of the museum's Spanish Colonial Revival façade, celebrating the building's centennial. — San Diego Museum of Art
The San Diego Museum of Art marks its centennial with a special exhibition and a birthday celebration featuring free admission, live music, and art activities. — San Diego Museum of Art
Covers 'Local Visions: Reimagining the Façade' at the San Diego Museum of Art, featuring local artists' reimaginations of the museum's entrance. — San Diego Museum of Art
by Julia Dixon Evans
A retrospective on Barbara Stauffacher Solomon's pioneering work in supergraphics and her influence on Californian architectural design.
Highlights 'ADORNO' at Oolong Gallery, a group exhibit featuring works by artist Amy Adler. — Oolong Gallery
by Julia Dixon Evans
The San Diego Museum of Art presents 'Alfredo Castañeda: Beyond Surrealism,' the first U.S. museum retrospective of the Mexican artist, featuring works from 1960 until his death in 2010, exploring themes of migration, family histories, and introspection. — San Diego Museum of Art
by Beth Accomando
How local artists survive financially, profiling Joe Yorty (Best Practice), PANCA/Paola Villasenor (The FRONT Arte & Cultura), and Andrea Chung. — Best Practice · Barrio Logan
by Evan Apodaca
The sixth biennial juried Artist Alliance exhibition showcasing 53 artworks from OMA's artist members, reflecting the diverse talent in Southern California. — Oceanside Museum of Art
Profiles the 2026 San Diego Art Prize winners: Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio, Ingrid Hernández, and Danielle Dean, highlighting their artistic contributions.
by Julia Dixon Evans
An exhibition featuring seven contemporary lens-based artists exploring themes of time, home, and displacement against the backdrop of the US-Mexico border. — SDSU - University Art Gallery
Discusses Ewa Słapa's 'lines, planes, bodies' at Best Practice, inspired by Alfred Yarbus' research on human eye perception. — Best Practice
by Julia Dixon Evans
A collaborative installation combining Marianela de la Hoz's paintings on speaker cones with soundscapes by Marc Urselli, creating an immersive experience. — San Diego Museum of Art
A retrospective exhibition featuring thirty-five paintings by Mexican artist Alfredo Castañeda, exploring his unique approach to Surrealist themes. — San Diego Museum of Art
Announcement of SDMA's 2025-2026 fall-winter season, highlighting exhibitions such as a retrospective of sculptor Eduardo Chillida and the first solo U.S. exhibition of Mexican Surrealist painter Alfredo Castañeda. — San Diego Museum of Art
Highlights 'Visions for Civic Gardens' exhibition by Esteban Cabeza de Baca and Heidi Howard at Two Rooms in La Jolla. — Two Rooms, La Jolla
by Julia Dixon Evans
A roundup of weekend arts events in San Diego, including the exhibition 'wontloversrevoltnow' by Las Hermanas Iglesias at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego, exploring themes of caregiving. — Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego
by Julia Dixon Evans
Announces 'wontloversrevoltnow' by Las Hermanas Iglesias at ICA San Diego, exploring themes of health, care, and community. — ICA San Diego
A retrospective exhibition marking the centennial of Eduardo Chillida's birth, featuring sculptures and works on paper reflecting his connection to the Basque landscape. — San Diego Museum of Art
A mixed-media exhibition at the San Diego Central Library exploring the surreal complexities of contemporary life through sculpture, textile, works on paper, and painting. — San Diego Central Library
An initiative inviting local artists to engage with the museum's collection on the theme of dignity, featuring new works by Hugo Crosthwaite, Anthony Sigala, Cat Chiu, and Shinpei Takeda. — San Diego Museum of Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego acquires three new artworks by Ryan Preciado, Sarah Rosalena, and Bárbara Sánchez-Kane, adding to its permanent collection of over 5,600 unique pieces. — Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
by Alexa Vazquez
ICA San Diego introduces seven local art graduates in its annual NextGen exhibition, showcasing emerging artistic voices from the San Diego and Baja California region. — ICA San Diego
The Oceanside Museum of Art's Artist Alliance presents 'Elemental' at Sparks Gallery, featuring 38 artworks exploring the core elements—earth, air, fire, and water. — Sparks Gallery
Seasonal roundup of the most anticipated San Diego visual-art exhibitions and events of spring 2025.
by Seth Combs
A substantive critical review of MCASD's PST ART survey "For Dear Life," engaging works by Yvonne Rainer, Howardena Pindell, Nan Goldin, and Christine Sun Kim. — MCASD · La Jolla
by Emily Watlington
Announces exhibitions by Ethan Chan, David Peña, and afra eisma at ICA San Diego, focusing on themes of healing. — ICA San Diego
Artforum's West Coast editor visits MCASD to discuss the exhibition with senior curator Jill Dawsey as part of its PST ART coverage. — MCASD · La Jolla
by Bryan Barcena
A look-ahead to the most anticipated San Diego art exhibitions of 2025.
by Seth Combs
A recap of the year's standout San Diego and Tijuana exhibitions.
by Seth Combs
Staff year-end picks including Best Practice's "Picturing Health" and the New Americans Museum hip-hop show. — Best Practice · Barrio Logan
by Julia Dixon Evans
A preview of "For Dear Life" with curator Jill Dawsey ahead of the exhibition's opening. — MCASD · La Jolla
by Amelia Rodriguez
A preview of the region-wide PST ART: Art & Science Collide initiative across Southern California.
by Seth Combs
A profile of San Diego installation and display artist Grisel Marquez-Razon. — San Diego
by Seth Combs
The Conrad Prebys Foundation's 2024 round: 38 grants totaling $5.7 million to San Diego arts organizations.
by Seth Combs
Coverage of the "Border Blasters" cross-border radio and TV exhibit at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center. — Bonita Museum and Cultural Center
by Julia Dixon Evans
Sculptor Ted Berryman of Santa Ysabel and a memorial show with the late painter Martha Moramay Cuevas. — Santa Ysabel · North County
by Seth Combs
A spring roundup including MCASD's "Forecast Form" (Caribbean art of the 1990s) and Cara Romero at MOPA. — MCASD · La Jolla
by Julia Dixon Evans
Tarrah Aroonsakool's immersive maze at Athenaeum Art Center and Lauren Lee McCarthy's "Saliva Bar" at UCSD's Mandeville Art Gallery. — Athenaeum Art Center · Bread & Salt
by Julia Dixon Evans
A review of Mingei's "La Frontera" border jewelry show, presented concurrently with CECUT in Tijuana. — Mingei International Museum · Balboa Park
by Seth Combs
The institutional page and framing for the first major survey of artist Kelly Akashi, organized by the San Jose Museum of Art. — MCASD · La Jolla
The article discusses how the expansion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall threatens to destroy hundreds of murals along the Tijuana side, which have been painted by artists worldwide to capture various perspectives on migration. — Tijuana border wall
by Gustavo Solis
An exploration of the 206 Arte Contemporáneo gallery in Tijuana, highlighting its role in the city's art scene and featuring works like Omar Khálid's 'BRAKE AND TAKE OFF'. — 206 Arte Contemporáneo, Tijuana
by Danielle Allaire
An examination of the vibrant and unregulated street art scene in Tijuana's Playas de Tijuana neighborhood, contrasting it with San Diego's public art approach. — Playas de Tijuana
by Gustavo Solis
A review of the Mingei International Museum's "African by Design." — Mingei International Museum · Balboa Park
by Seth Combs
On San Diego-based Kumeyaay and Payomkawichum filmmaker Fox Maxy's experimental, iPhone-shot films. — San Diego
by Edward Frumkin
A tour of MCASD La Jolla's renovation and expansion ahead of reopening, quadrupling its gallery space. — MCASD · La Jolla
How the Barrio Logan and Logan Heights art space Bread & Salt adapted during the pandemic. — Bread & Salt · Barrio Logan
A profile of San Diego and Tijuana painter Rodrigo Angel Jimenez-Ortega. — San Diego–Tijuana
by Brenda Verano
On Park Social, a citywide initiative placing 18 site-specific artworks across 28 San Diego parks, anchored by Tim Murdoch's "Walking the Wall." — Balboa Park · North Park · East Village
by Matt Stromberg
The institutional page for the annual emerging-artist exhibition for recent San Diego and Baja graduates. — ICA San Diego / Central · Balboa Park
A group show exploring Tijuana's relationship to the U.S., growing out of the Tijuana gallery Otras Obras. — Tijuana
The cross-border Tijuana art renaissance and the show "Tijuana Makes Me Happy." — Tijuana
by Carolina A. Miranda
Coverage of the "For Dear Life" opening, quoting CEO Kathryn Kanjo and curator Jill Dawsey. — MCASD · La Jolla
by Elisabeth Frausto
The curatorial framing for MCASD's PST ART survey; the catalog was edited by Jill Dawsey and Isabel Casso. — MCASD · La Jolla
The Director's Circle acquisition exhibition, featuring Alvaro Blancarte, Kelsey Brookes, and Perry Vasquez. — MCASD · La Jolla
Landmark San Diego-Tijuana border artworks, including Javier Tellez's "One Flew Over the Void" and Ana Teresa Fernandez's "Erasing the Border." — San Diego–Tijuana border
The DIY contemporary gallery scene in downtown Tijuana, with an interview with Monica Arreola. — Tijuana
The catalog page for the regional art prize, produced by the San Diego Visual Arts Network. — Balboa Park
Profiles of the seven NextGen 2024 emerging artists, including Deanna Barahona and Chanell Stone. — ICA San Diego / Central · Balboa Park
by Amelia Rodriguez
Cross-border artists including Javier Salazar Rojas ("Deported Artist") and Angelica Escoto. — Tijuana
by Amelia Rodriguez
A year-end artist roundup including Monica Arreola (206 Arte Contemporaneo) and muralist Maxx Moses. — San Diego–Tijuana
by Amelia Rodriguez
A long-form scholarly review reading the exhibition through the history of medicine, with attention to Fred Lonidier and Simone Leigh. — MCASD · La Jolla
Three concurrent Bread & Salt exhibitions: "Prometheus II," Helena Westra's "Lying Fallow," and "Down with the Hierarchy!" — Bread & Salt · Barrio Logan
Artist Melissa Walter's science-based art and a Culturecast interview. — San Diego
On artist-scientist collaborations including "Weather on Steroids" at La Jolla Historical Society's Wisteria Cottage. — La Jolla Historical Society
The Tijuana and Mexicali neomuralism movement, featuring Alonso "El Norteno" Delgadillo and Gloria "Glow" Muriel. — Tijuana
by Alex Zaragoza