Opening Reception: Saturday, March 22, 5–8 PM
March 22–May 10, 2025

I Thought I’d Be Braver, Jiang’s debut solo exhibition, is a decade-long chronicle of her journey toward emotional courage. Her early work, characterized by bold colors and harsh textures, reflects the pain of repressed emotions and a fear of vulnerability. Gradually, this aesthetic softens into one of sheer, vibrant hues and delicate layers, mirroring her internal shift toward nurturance, forgiveness, and compassion. A testament to the beauty and complexity of spiritual survival, Jiang’s work offers viewers a poignant reminder of the courage and tenderness of the human heart.

Friday, March 7, 2025
6 PM

Join us for ¡HOLA OLA! Bilingual & All Genres Open Mic & Showcase at the Athenaeum Art Center. Each act gets a four-minute spotlight to share your poetry, music, comedy, or any creative expression. Our host, Lucia (@luzzyluce), will be guiding the fun! This free event welcomes everyone in our vibrant, inclusive border town space—celebrating la vida fronteriza in a seamless blend of English and Spanish.

Opening Reception: Saturday, January 11, 5–8 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

January 11–March 14, 2025

Ana María Herrera’s work explores identity, displacement, and cultural coexistence through an intricate blend of found objects and diverse materials, such as wood, glass, metal, and fabric. Her compositions reflect the ephemeral nature of existence, particularly in the border region, where the complexities of migration and cultural negotiation are ever-present. By incorporating photographs, textiles, and three-dimensional elements, Herrera examines the emotional and physical boundaries that shape personal and collective identities, addressing themes of vulnerability, resistance, and resilience within the contemporary sociopolitical landscape. 

Friday, December 6, 2024
6–9 PM

Join us at the Athenaeum Art Center on December 6, 2024, at 6 p.m. for the hilarious and beloved "Brian and Ryan's Kitschmas Pageant"! Back by popular demand, this whimsical holiday extravaganza promises to bring laughter, joy, and a healthy dose of kitschy cheer.

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 9, 5–8 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

November 9, 2024–January 3, 2025

We are pleased to announce a Faculty & Staff Exhibition at the AAC Gallery. Athenaeum School of the Arts faculty and Athenaeum Music & Arts Library staff will submit a piece to display.

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 10, 5–8 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

August 10–October 25, 2024

As the San Diego–Tijuana region is honored as the World Design Capital for 2024, the Athenaeum Art Center is thrilled to present What's Your Type?—an exhibition celebrating the area's rich design heritage and innovative spirit. From August 10 to October 25, 2024, immerse yourself in typographical creativity, featuring works from sign painters, muralists, block printers, and traditional letterpress and graphic designers. Engage with interactive installations and participate in printmaking activities that offer a hands-on experience with our extensive collection of historic type. Visit the Athenaeum Art Center and discover new depths in typography. Do not miss this unique opportunity to explore the intersection of art, design, and community! 

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 25, 5–7 PM

May 25–June 8, 2024

The Student Exhibition will include works by students who have completed a class at the Athenaeum School of the Arts during the last two years. Artwork entries for this exhibition will be accepted between Tuesday, April 2–Friday, May 10, 2024. Each artist may enter up to one (1) artwork for this exhibition. 

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 11, 5–8 PM

May 11–July 26, 2024

The Athenaeum Art Center is proud to present an exhibition of artwork by graduate and upper-division undergraduate students of the School of Art and Design at San Diego State University. Since 2002, the SDSU Art Council has awarded scholarships to a select number of students who, in addition to the Council's financial support, receive the opportunity to present their artwork at the Athenaeum.

Artist Presentations: Thursday, May 9, 2–4 PM

May 11–July 26, 2024

The Athenaeum Art Center is proud to present an exhibition of artwork by graduate and upper-division undergraduate students of the School of Art and Design at San Diego State University. Since 2002, the SDSU Art Council has awarded scholarships to a select number of students who, in addition to the Council's financial support, receive the opportunity to present their artwork at the Athenaeum.

Closing Reception: Saturday, May 4, 4–6 PM

March 2–May 3, 2024

Tarrah Aroonsakool, a first-generation San Diego native with Thai and Lao heritage, embarked on a journey of self-discovery through art. Aroonsakool’s creative path led them to New Orleans, where they found a supportive community and showcased their work globally after her first show in 2013. Motivated by a desire to foster a creative community in their hometown, Aroonsakool returned to San Diego, where they continue to push boundaries and transform their art, incorporating everyday objects and found materials into the work.

Gallery Walk-through: Saturday, April 13, 7 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

March 2–May 3, 2024

Join us on April 13 and dive into Through the Maze with a special Q&A and guided walk-through led by artist Tarrah Aroonsakool. Starting at 7 p.m., Aroonsakool will guide small groups through the immersive maze, sharing insights and answering your questions. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with the artist! The Barrio Art Crawl runs from 5 to 8 p.m.—the perfect Saturday plan to explore galleries and experience art in a new way. See you there! 

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 9, 5–8 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

March 2–May 3, 2024

Tarrah Aroonsakool, a first-generation San Diego native with Thai and Lao heritage, embarked on a journey of self-discovery through art. Aroonsakool’s creative path led them to New Orleans, where they found a supportive community and showcased their work globally after her first show in 2013. Motivated by a desire to foster a creative community in their hometown, Aroonsakool returned to San Diego, where they continue to push boundaries and transform their art, incorporating everyday objects and found materials into the work.

Gallery Walk-through: Friday, February 16, 6:30–8 PM

December 9, 2023–February 23, 2024

Join us for an artist walk-through with Evan Apodaca, where he delves into his ongoing research for The Secret City, currently showcased at Athenaeum Art Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the walk-through commencing at 7 p.m. Free admission.

Sunday, January 28, 5–7 PM

December 9, 2023–February 23, 2024

Join Evan Apodaca and Project YANO for a discussion and presentation on the history, the present, and the future of resistance to militarism in San Diego. Apodaca and Project YANO will be discussing local defense contractors’ involvement in the current conflict in Israel and Gaza, the militarization of the border, the environmental impact of naval shipyards on historically Chicano neighborhoods, and other related topics. Audience participation is welcomed for this open forum. This event is part of Enero Zapatista, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Zapatista uprising. Free admission.

Opening Reception: Saturday, December 9, 5–8 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

December 9, 2023–February 23, 2024

Since 2017, Evan Apodaca’s work has aimed to confront the hyper-militarization of San Diego and its global implications. His video installation Monumental Interventions creates illusory worlds where toppled statues come to life, addressing San Diego’s complicity in US hegemony in Latin America and the Pacific, all while examining the militarization of the US-Mexico border. With anonymous community participation, Apodaca’s work delves into the saturation of patriotism within San Diego’s socially and physically constructed landscape while shedding light on the environmental injustices experienced in Barrio Logan due to pollution from nearby naval shipyards. The artist’s series of drawings entitled Reruns and documentary films Oceanside 69 and Del Mar 72 collectively provide an intimate window into San Diego’s tumultuous antiwar era from 1969 to 1972.

Friday, December 1, 2023
6–9 PM

Join us for A Kitschmas Pageant, a festive holiday event at the Athenaeum Art Center! Experience the magic at our opening reception on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 6 to 9 PM. Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with performances by San Diego artists, delightful animatronics, dioramas and other surprises. Let's celebrate the season together with joyful music and art! Don't miss out on this merry occasion!

¡Venga con nosotros a Kitschmas, un festivo evento navideño en el Athenaeum Art Center! Vive la magia en nuestra recepción inaugural el viernes 1 de diciembre de 2023, de 6 a 9 PM. Sumérgete en el espíritu navideño con actuaciones de artistas de San Diego, encantadores animatronics, dioramas y otras sorpresas. Celebremos juntos las fiestas con música y arte. No se pierda esta alegre ocasión.

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 12, 5 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

August 12–November 25, 2023

There’s Never Just One is an exhibition by Anna O’Cain, who considers everyday observations, events, and vernacular speech potent sources of inspiration. She collects images, fragments of conversation, children’s science books, objects, and maps. In this exhibition, O’Cain delves into diverse subjects and disparate materials ranging from the history of the apple, the adverse role of CO2 in climate change, to collage, and sculptural, photographic sets. Soap boxes placed in front of fragmented photographs, a string of keys spilling onto a table, a collage honoring a friend, and a cloth transcription of artists’ zoom meetings during the pandemic are included in There’s Never Just One. Additionally, her installations often feature performative elements inspired by dreams and domestic activities, such as sewing surrender flags, creating felt book covers, mending clothes, and baking pies. From a broken table to a family letter, a note found on the street, or building a bookshelf, O’Cain’s creative process embraces unexpected starting points with quirky ideas about learning, recollection, and organization found in daily experience.

Saturday, May 13, 2023
12 NOON–8 PM
Gallery Open: 12 NOON–8 PM
Opening Reception: 4–8 PM
Mariachi Music: 5–7 PM

This Mother's Day weekend, we invite you to a special pop-up art show that celebrates the wisdom and words passed down by our mothers. Submissions for the show are open to a ready to show range of art inspired by the invaluable lessons and advice that mothers have shared with their children through different cultures. We aim to honor the power of maternal guidance and to highlight the importance of bilingual communication and connection. ¡Los esperamos! We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday, April 8 (during the Barrio Art Crawl)
5–8 PM

On the Blue Line is a site-specific installation created by artist Armando de la Torre. Using found objects, photography, and recycled cardboard and wood, de la Torre incorporates sound and video to explore common threads between his community of Barrio Logan, the gallery space, and his own life. "For forty years the Blue Line trolley has been the heart line for many commuting to school or work from the San Ysidro/Tijuana station to the Downtown station. Recently it was extended to UCSD/La Jolla, promising to connect people with opportunities for jobs, education, and healthcare," he describes. The Barrio Logan Blue Line station is walking distance from the Athenaeum Art Center. "The Blue Line is a framing device and a metaphor for people on a journey to a better place and I simply want to show that anyone can express themselves and tell a story using common materials available to everyone. It's a simple act that can be very empowering." 

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 11, 5 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

February 11–May 5, 2023

On the Blue Line is a site-specific installation created by artist Armando de la Torre. Using found objects, photography, and recycled cardboard and wood, de la Torre incorporates sound and video to explore common threads between his community of Barrio Logan, the gallery space, and his own life. "For forty years the Blue Line trolley has been the heart line for many commuting to school or work from the San Ysidro/Tijuana station to the Downtown station. Recently it was extended to UCSD/La Jolla, promising to connect people with opportunities for jobs, education, and healthcare," he describes. The Barrio Logan Blue Line station is walking distance from the Athenaeum Art Center. "The Blue Line is a framing device and a metaphor for people on a journey to a better place and I simply want to show that anyone can express themselves and tell a story using common materials available to everyone. It's a simple act that can be very empowering." 

Artist Walk-through: Saturday, January 14, 5:30 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

November 12, 2022–January 28, 2023

Sibyl Rubottom presents a visual memoir of her work from the last six decades, blending exploration with inspiration and comprising a variety of mediums: paintings, etchings, prints, artist books, collages, and soft sculpture.

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 12, 5–8 PM (during the Barrio Art Crawl)

November 12, 2022–January 28, 2023

Sibyl Rubottom presents a visual memoir of her work from the last six decades, blending exploration with inspiration and comprising a variety of mediums: paintings, etchings, prints, artist books, collages, and soft sculpture.

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 10, 5–8 PM during Barrio Art Crawl

September 6–October 22, 2022

This exhibition is a celebration of the transformation of paper and its importance in many inventive art processes and creations. Paper Print Bind showcases the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library’s​ extraordinary ​Erika & Fred Torri Artists’ Books Collection​​. In addition, it presents a carefully curated array of contemporary artworks made with paper by renowned regional ​and international ​artists.

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 9, 2022, 5–8 PM

July 9–August 20, 2022

The exhibition reception opens with a live painting event during the Barrio Art Crawl.

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 14, 4–7 PM

May 14–July 9, 2022

The Athenaeum Art Center is hosting an exhibition of all works on paper—drawings and books—by three artists, Carolina Betancourt, Sage Serrano, and Karla Del Rio. The works in this exhibition offer allegorical and conceptual interpretations of imagery on paper, highlighting the craft, the poetics, and the versatility of drawing as a medium. The work emphasizes visual encounters between local artists and cross-border creators through paper.

ONLINE

PEEC for TEENS

(13–18 years old)

TUESDAYS 4–5:30 PM

The PEEC is a free program especially designed to engage local teens and highlight the diversity of teaching artists throughout San Diego. From painting to printmaking, drawing, sculpture, and photography, participating teens will have the opportunity to explore a variety of media and teaching styles. Field trips, gallery visits, and special events will round out the experience. PEEC takes place on Tuesday from 4:00–5:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Art Center in Logan Heights (1955 Julian Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113).

ONLINE

PEEC for TEENS

(13–18 years old)

TUESDAYS 4–5:30 PM

The PEEC is a free program especially designed to engage local teens and highlight the diversity of teaching artists throughout San Diego. From painting to printmaking, drawing, sculpture, and photography, participating teens will have the opportunity to explore a variety of media and teaching styles. Field trips, gallery visits, and special events will round out the experience. PEEC takes place on Tuesday from 4:00–5:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Art Center in Logan Heights (1955 Julian Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113).