Beat the heat with indoor gallery exhibits and enjoy cool evening art activations this July as Sacramento’s creativity lights up the scene. From explosive color to sparkling metaphors, local artists offer something to celebrate throughout the whole month of July.
Saturday, July 5 marks the launch of several art exhibitions, including “New Wave,” a diverse array of member art from Axis Gallery in Midtown. The group includes painter Adam Cochran, known for his contemplative and expressive portraiture, multidisciplinary artist Taner Paşamehmetoğlu and Sokthea Chan’s intricate and densely layered abstract painting. The exhibit runs through July 27, with a Second Saturday reception on July 12 from 5-8 p.m. An invitation-only Collector's Night will also be held on July 11.
Also opening on July 5 is Atrium 916’s “VIVA LA FRIDA” exhibit, dedicated to the late Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo in honor of her birthday. Mixed-media art by Maggie Gomez-Devos and Raul Mejia will pay tribute to the iconic artist and her lasting cultural and artistic influence with portraits on reclaimed wood, sculptural papier-mache masks and upcycled fashion. Wear your best Frida-inspired look and participate in photo opportunities and a costume contest during the July 5 artist talk and reception at the Atrium 916 gallery in Old Sacramento. The exhibition runs through August 3.
After celebrating the resilient and expressive nature of Kahlo, embrace your inner anarchist with a visit to Verge Center for the Arts. The center’s latest exhibition showcases the work of the late Bay Area music photographer Murray Bowles. This collection of black and white film photography captures the essence and energy of the Bay Area punk music scene in the 1980s and 90s through Bowles’ signature candid style. Photos of performances by acts like Rancid, Operation Ivy and the Dead Kennedys solidify the collection’s significance while intimate portraits of the punk community give viewers a glimpse of an era that was exciting, raw and ripe with creative expression.
“Bowles’s photographs provide a context for a culture that includes not just the performers, but the friends, fans, and environments that made the scene possible,” reads the exhibition statement. “HAIL MURRAY! The Bay Area Punk Photography of Murray Bowles, 1982 – 1995” is on view through August 17.
Make your way over to J Street to check out “Over Under & Through,” a new exhibit of local photography at Timeless Thrills Gallery. This group exhibition presents dynamic perspectives from over 30 local artists and photographers spanning multiple styles and photographic mediums including film and digital. With everything from street snapshots to experimental works, this show highlights eclectic viewpoints through the lens of some of Sacramento’s most prolific photographers. The exhibit opened on June 28 and is on view through August 9.
Also opening on July 5 is Atrium 916’s “VIVA LA FRIDA” exhibit, dedicated to the late Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo in honor of her birthday. Mixed-media art by Maggie Gomez-Devos and Raul Mejia will pay tribute to the iconic artist and her lasting cultural and artistic influence with portraits on reclaimed wood, sculptural papier-mache masks and upcycled fashion. Wear your best Frida-inspired look and participate in photo opportunities and a costume contest during the July 5 artist talk and reception at the Atrium 916 gallery in Old Sacramento. The exhibition runs through August 3.
After celebrating the resilient and expressive nature of Kahlo, embrace your inner anarchist with a visit to Verge Center for the Arts. The center’s latest exhibition showcases the work of the late Bay Area music photographer Murray Bowles. This collection of black and white film photography captures the essence and energy of the Bay Area punk music scene in the 1980s and 90s through Bowles’ signature candid style. Photos of performances by acts like Rancid, Operation Ivy and the Dead Kennedys solidify the collection’s significance while intimate portraits of the punk community give viewers a glimpse of an era that was exciting, raw and ripe with creative expression.
“Bowles’s photographs provide a context for a culture that includes not just the performers, but the friends, fans, and environments that made the scene possible,” reads the exhibition statement. “HAIL MURRAY! The Bay Area Punk Photography of Murray Bowles, 1982 – 1995” is on view through August 17.
Make your way over to J Street to check out “Over Under & Through,” a new exhibit of local photography at Timeless Thrills Gallery. This group exhibition presents dynamic perspectives from over 30 local artists and photographers spanning multiple styles and photographic mediums including film and digital. With everything from street snapshots to experimental works, this show highlights eclectic viewpoints through the lens of some of Sacramento’s most prolific photographers. The exhibit opened on June 28 and is on view through August 9.
Prism Art Space, a collective art studio and gallery space in Midtown, which opened in May , is presenting a new collection of work by its member artists in collaboration with their community.
“Collaboration is foundational to art practice, yet often overlooked or undervalued within art worlds. This show centers collaboration at its core,” member artist Heather Hogan shared.
“In Conversation” is an exhibit featuring work by member artists in dialogue with another local artist “whose work resonates, contrasts, or deepens the themes they’re exploring.”
Described as a “call and response — between artists, mediums, materials, and the communities that hold them,” this exhibit brings together a collection of works that spark dialogue on community, creativity and shared spaces. The public will have a chance to view the art up close during a daytime preview on Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception will follow that evening from 5-8 p.m.
For another selection of local art, visit the “Membership Medley” exhibit at BlueLine Arts in Roseville, running throughout the month of July. This exhibit is one of the gallery’s largest events of the year, featuring work from member artists. Expect to find a variety of artistic mediums and inspiration, from traditional sculpture to modern paintings and anything in between. Art from throughout the region will be on display, so this exhibit is a great way to find fresh perspectives and creative inspiration.
Amador County artist Indi Carlton is exhibiting her abstract acrylic painting, titled “Ostara,” after the “German goddess of spring, dawn, and fertility.” A rainbow of color wraps the painting’s central figure, an animalistic form, with pointed ears like a bunny, enfolding a glowing egg. Carlton’s artist statement reads, “In the wheel of life Spring represents new beginnings, rebirth, and balance. It is a time when earth awakens, the day and night are of equal length, and growth and fertility are abundant. The colors of spring bring much needed brightness after the darker days of winter.”
Bay Area artist Jun Yan’s metal sculpture, reminiscent of a clump of gnarled tree roots memorialized in copper, will also be on display alongside works in pencil, ceramic and more. The exhibit runs through August 9 and an opening reception will be held on Saturday, July 19 from 5-7 p.m.
Whether you’re looking to light up the night or connect with the community, ample opportunities abound this July to celebrate artistic freedom and participate in Sacramento’s vibrant creative culture.
“Collaboration is foundational to art practice, yet often overlooked or undervalued within art worlds. This show centers collaboration at its core,” member artist Heather Hogan shared.
“In Conversation” is an exhibit featuring work by member artists in dialogue with another local artist “whose work resonates, contrasts, or deepens the themes they’re exploring.”
Described as a “call and response — between artists, mediums, materials, and the communities that hold them,” this exhibit brings together a collection of works that spark dialogue on community, creativity and shared spaces. The public will have a chance to view the art up close during a daytime preview on Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception will follow that evening from 5-8 p.m.
For another selection of local art, visit the “Membership Medley” exhibit at BlueLine Arts in Roseville, running throughout the month of July. This exhibit is one of the gallery’s largest events of the year, featuring work from member artists. Expect to find a variety of artistic mediums and inspiration, from traditional sculpture to modern paintings and anything in between. Art from throughout the region will be on display, so this exhibit is a great way to find fresh perspectives and creative inspiration.
Amador County artist Indi Carlton is exhibiting her abstract acrylic painting, titled “Ostara,” after the “German goddess of spring, dawn, and fertility.” A rainbow of color wraps the painting’s central figure, an animalistic form, with pointed ears like a bunny, enfolding a glowing egg. Carlton’s artist statement reads, “In the wheel of life Spring represents new beginnings, rebirth, and balance. It is a time when earth awakens, the day and night are of equal length, and growth and fertility are abundant. The colors of spring bring much needed brightness after the darker days of winter.”
Bay Area artist Jun Yan’s metal sculpture, reminiscent of a clump of gnarled tree roots memorialized in copper, will also be on display alongside works in pencil, ceramic and more. The exhibit runs through August 9 and an opening reception will be held on Saturday, July 19 from 5-7 p.m.
Whether you’re looking to light up the night or connect with the community, ample opportunities abound this July to celebrate artistic freedom and participate in Sacramento’s vibrant creative culture.
This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Hmong Daily News, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.