Upcoming Exhibitions
High School Exhibition
68th Annual Countywide Showcase
Hanjing Zhang, “Untitled”
67th Annual High School Show, 2025
On View: Wednesday, April 22 - Friday, May 15, 2026
Artist Reception: Saturday, April 25, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
First Friday Reception: May 1, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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
Catherine Amis, “Let it Slough Off”
Curate This! 2025: Transmutation
On View: Wednesday, May 27 - Friday, June 5, 2026
First Friday Reception: June 5, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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
Artwork by Lance Sims
On View: Friday, June 12 - Friday, July 3, 2026
First Friday: July 3, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
This exhibition is designed to showcase the ways in which art can connect families and can be passed down through generations. For this three-week exhibition, we’ll be showcasing the work of two local families: the Eckerman family and the Offerman family.
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
Michelle Tidwell, “Cambria Coast No. 2”
94th Annual California Landscape Show, 2025
On View: Wednesday, July 15 - Friday, August 21, 2026
First Friday: August 7, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Artist Talk: TBA
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!
With Love
Examining Attachments and Emotion
Grace Oliver, “Countdown”
On View: Wednesday, September 2 - Friday, September 25, 2026
First Friday Reception: September 4, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
What does it look like to be loved? How do we know that we are significant to someone? Love is an experience that manifests in many forms. From the passion of romance, the warmth of family, or even the bitterness of heartbreak, this exhibition shows how artists in our community capture the ephemeral in physical form. We encourage representations of all types of love, including romantic, familial, communal, platonic, and any other form of love that is received or given in a meaningful way.
For all the ways that exist to love and be loved, there are infinitely many ways to experience these emotions and express them through art. In this exhibition, we aim to showcase a wide variety of interpretations and experiences.
Open Studios
Satellite Preview Exhibit
North Coast & Santa Cruz Mountains
On View: Friday, October 2 - Sunday, October 18, 2026
First Friday Reception: October 2, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
We are proud to host the North Coast & Santa Cruz Mountains preview exhibit for the 41st annual Open Studios! Visit our gallery to see a selection of works from artists in the further reaches of North County who are participating in this years studio tour. All work at the exhibition is for sale. Pop into the gallery, find artwork that intrigues you, and note which studios you want to visit.
For the duration of this exhibit, our gallery hours will be 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Thursday - Sunday.
Luck of the Draw
On View: Wednesday, October 28 - Saturday, November 7, 2026
First Friday Reception: November 6, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Luck of the Draw Event: November 7, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Imagine winning an original, one-of-a-kind piece of artwork while simultaneously supporting the arts in our community. Luck of the Draw is our annual fundraiser, where ticket-holders take home original works donated by artists in our community. With each ticket, you’re entered into a thrilling raffle where, when your name is called, you get to choose any of the available artwork right off the gallery walls!
Simple Pleasures
2026 Members’ Exhibition
Arthur Waidhofer, "Natural Bridges Eucalyptus"
Members’ Exhibition 2025
On View: Wednesday, November 18 - Friday, December 18, 2026
First Friday Reception: December 4, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Celebrate the creativity of our vibrant artistic community at the Santa Cruz Art League’s annual Members’ Exhibition, featuring work by current SCAL members and open for all to enjoy.
This year’s theme, Simple Pleasures, was selected through a vote by our community. Artists are invited to reflect on the small, meaningful moments that bring joy, whether found in food shared with friends, time in nature, beloved pets, creative rituals, or the everyday beauty that surrounds us. As a Santa Cruz based organization, we especially encourage work that connects to the simple pleasures found in our local landscape and community.