Where do you begin when more than three hundred and fifty artists open their studio doors across Santa Cruz County every October? Start with some of the people who know the local art scene.

Open Studios Art Tour is a chance to step through a studio door, meet the artist and discover where, why and how the work happens. With more than sixty new artists joining the tour this year, there’s plenty of new work to experience, along with familiar favorites and a growing number of dynamic hubs. 

To help you find your way in, curators and administrators from local museums and galleries, both nonprofits and private venues, share several artists they’re excited about this year. Think of their picks as a starting point, then follow your curiosity. Wander down a street you’ve never explored, pop into a studio that catches your eye, strike up a conversation, and see where the day takes you. 

One of the many joys of Open Studios is discovering not just new artists, but also new friends, unique creative spaces, exciting new mediums, and corners of beautiful Santa Cruz County you may not have visited before. 

Discover, experience and connect with the Santa Cruz County art scene this October. 

Map courtesy of Visit Santa Cruz County

• 3-4 | South County
• 10-11 | North County
• 17-18 | All County

Cabrillo Gallery

Cabrillo Gallery offers a broad diversity of art and design exhibitions, lectures and other programming with the purposes of educating, inspiring, and encouraging discourse about art, society and culture. | Est: 1959 | Nonprofit | Director: Beverly Rayner, Coordinator: Elise Ordorica Beal

• Adon Valenziano  - His evocative sculptures are a fascinating hybrid of natural and machine forms morphed into what appear to be living entities from an alternate reality. His mixed media artworks are created with an awe-inspiring set of skills, seamlessly melding bronze, glass, wood, and other materials, and are finished off with a masterful application of surface treatments. A trip to Aidon's studio is sure to offer a wonderland of awe and discovery!
• Robynn Smith - Her evocative paintings, prints and mixed media works conjure up soulful and contemplative psychological landscapes that pull you in for a deeper look. Using photographic imagery, she delves into history and connects it to the present, referencing "humanity's magnificent opportunities and repeated mistakes," as she so beautifully describes it. Through the nuanced overlapping, veiling and revealing of these images, Robynn's works are richly layered, both physically and psychologically, offering the viewer so many depths to explore.

Felix Kulpa Gallery and Sculpture Garden

Showcasing thought-provoking and unconventional work by artists at every stage of their careers, both local and national. | Est: 1999 | Nonprofit | Executive Director: Mary Tartaro

• Robynn Smith - Her paintings blur the lines between representation and abstraction with expressive fluidity.
• Adon Valenziano  - Seamlessly integrates disparate elements into cohesive multi media sculpture.

M.K. Contemporary

A 4,600-square-foot gallery in downtown Santa Cruz, showcasing a distinctive blend of contemporary works that balance quirky, eclectic, and elegant sensibilities—drawing inspiration from the region’s natural beauty and vibrant creative culture. | Est: 2019 | Private | Directors: Rose Selery & Melissa Kressia
Open Studios Spotlight Artists:

• David Fleming - He traded a career designing cars for Ford and Porsche for full-time painting, and has shown bold, painterly work across Open Studios since 1996.
• Coeleen Kiebert - Has spent decades shaping generations of local artists through her clay sculpture practice, rooted in Jungian philosophy and what she calls “Art & Spirit.” With studios just minutes apart in Rio del Mar, this pairing makes for a rich afternoon of South County studio-hopping.
   

Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery

A University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) campus gallery that showcases the art and ideas of students, faculty, and alumni. | Est: 1971 | Nonprofit | Executive Director: Valeria Miranda

• Jessica Carrasco – Jessica’s vibrant images are a love song to her beloved Watsonville and that love can be felt in her murals. Her images celebrate Latine culture and offer visual memories to many people in the diaspora like me.
• Rhia Hurt - Her colorful abstract shapes always fill me with visual joy, and I can spend a long time staring at the nuanced hues that she creates with acrylic and mixed pigments.

Minnow Arts

A gallery and community event space in Downtown Santa Cruz that champions local and regional artists while hosting a wide range of cultural events. | Est: 2019 | Private | Directors: Christie Jarvis & Trevor Jones

• Ethan Estess - A Santa Cruz sculptor and marine scientist, transforms reclaimed fishing gear and ocean debris into large-scale artworks that spotlight the fragility of marine ecosystems. His attention to detail and kind spirit really make this important work shine. We hope you take a moment to drop in.
• Cynthia Spillman - An Aptos-based painter, brings an instinctive approach to canvas with works rooted in emotion, bold colors and textures, and an edgy style we appreciate. With a studio tucked into a bamboo forest, we think it's worth a visit!

Museum of Art & History (MAH)

Dedicated to bringing people together around art, history, and culture, the MAH serves as a vibrant hub in downtown Santa Cruz, hosting exhibitions, events, and educational programs. | Est: 1996 | Nonprofit | Executive Director: Ginger Shulick Porcella, Deputy Director: Marla Novo

• Coeleen Kiebert  - I’ve admired Coeleen Kiebert and her art practice for decades. She inspires many through her exploration of the psychological stages of the creative process. A true local legend--plus her studio is breathtaking! - Marla Nova
• Susan Taylor Brown - I have a soft spot (pun intended) for fiber and textile artists. I can't wait to visit the studio of Susan Taylor Brown and see her hand-embroidered "WildScapes" in person. The perfect addition to any moss witch art collection!" - Ginger Shulick Porcella

Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA)

PVA promotes the arts and artists in the Pajaro Valley through exhibitions and collaborations with guest curators, schools, city government, and local organizations. | Est: 1984 | Nonprofit | Executive Director: Miriam Anton

• Anna Cummings - Her work has a whimsical, classic beauty to it. It is contemporary but elicits a feeling of nostalgia. All of her pieces are masterfully made and you can visually tell how much artistry and technical skill is behind each one. - Staff Picks
• Jessica Carrasco - Her work is a beautifully authentic reflection of Watsonville and the community we’re lucky to be part of. She brings together culture, identity, and community while creating work that celebrates and empowers young people. Her work is meaningful and very much a celebration of home. - Staff Picks

Radius Gallery

A 1,900-square-foot professional art venue at the Tannery Arts Center, showcasing the work of local, regional and international artists. The space is also available for performances, events, receptions, workshops, and other creative projects. | Est: 2012 | Private | Director: Ann Hazels
Open Studios Spotlight Artists:

• Julie Gires _ She has beautiful modern ceramic ware and is joined with three other women. Julie has a few pieces in upcoming exhibit at Radius Gallery "The Mug", so a visit to her studio will be stepping into a world of options. You will want to redo all your kitchen decisions once you see her dinnerware! Lovely on the eyes and hands.
• Monte Atherton - An artist I recently met this summer at a BBQ then did a studio visit once I learned about his work. His ceramics are chunky and thoughtful, elemental and innovative. I am particularly fond of his garden pieces - they stack and are interchangeable. Quite clever. 

Santa Cruz Art League

A community art center that fosters creativity by providing artists with accessible opportunities to create, learn, and exhibit their work. | Est: 1919 | Nonprofit | Manager: Betsy Behan, Exhibition Curator: Heejin Lee
Open Studios Spotlight Artists:

• Susan Taylor Brown - Her work creates a beautiful and deeply personal connection between art and the natural world. Through her richly textured, hand-embroidered Wildscapes, she transforms simple materials into tactile landscapes that invite us to pause, reflect, and reconnect with nature. I am especially drawn to the sense of calm, imagination, and human connection woven into every piece. - Heejin Lee
• Martina Goulart - Her paintings invite the viewer to see the world with a child’s sense of curiosity and wonder, transforming familiar places and experiences into imaginative stories full of possibility. Her vibrant use of color and strong sense of place draw you in, making each painting feel like an invitation to step inside and explore. - Betsy Behan

Plan Your 2026 Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour
October 3-4 | South County
October 10-11 |  North County
October 17-18 | All County
11am–5pm

Preview Exhibitions

• M.K. Contemporary Art | September 25-October 25 (all participating artists)
• Pajaro Valley Arts | September 26-October 18 (South County artists only)
• Santa Cruz Art League | October 2-October 18 (North Coast & Santa Cruz Mountains artists only) 

Website: santacruzopenstudios.com

Mobile App: Download the free Santa Cruz County Open Studios app, available through the App Store and Google Play.

Printed Artist Guide: Pick up a guide at Good Times locations, preview exhibit galleries, and public libraries, while supplies last. View the digital version.

Green signs: Follow the green signs to discover artists across Santa Cruz County.
Instagram: @artscouncilsc
Facebook: Arts Council Santa Cruz County

DISCOVER CONNECT EXPERIENCE 

Special thanks to our 2026 sponsors: GoodTimes and West Coast Community Bank