RARW | OC Art Blog

OC Art Blogger on the move – Good Art in Texas?

Apr 17, 2012 | 4 Comments

San Antonio, TX. At the 2012 SSCA annual conference, this year held in The Alamo City, San Antonio, three Orange County writers were shocked and amazed by this fascinating and artistic city! Who would have thought that The Alamo City had good art! Ok, maybe Los Angeles and Orange County have warped my mind into forgetting about the other states outside of New York and California for art in America, but I stand corrected! Texas definitely has art. With a slew of public sculptures that brighten...

Cruisin’ Magulandia

Aug 18, 2011 | 1 Comment

Magu, in his natural state - a smile. Pomona, CA. At the collector’s preview of the new exhibition at the dA Center for the Arts, Cruisin Magulandia, the all-around feeling of the event was that of reverence. The entire night was filled with shared stories, friendly faces, passionate music, home-made snacks, and dozens of people looking to open up and revel in the loving memories of artist, Gilbert Luján. Better known as Magu to most, he was a friend to so many people it was overwhelming to...

“Magu” Lujan

Jul 28, 2011 | 0 Comments

Magulandia: A Human Experience Evan A. Senn In 1974, the art world met Gilbert “Magu” Lujan in a way that no one can forget. The LACMA exhibition of Los Four that year would not be the first time Magu had changed—and challenged—our collective understanding of art and culture in Southern California and it most certainly wouldn’t be the last. Bridging the gap between different cultures in the same community and igniting a worldwide cultural awakening, Magu’s endeavors in artistic expression...

Locals Only

May 15, 2011 | 3 Comments

In the art world's recent obsession with Street Art, Pasadena Museum of California Art takes a closer look at the local level. This Street Art Exhibition is not MOCA's copy cat partner, though the buzz coming into the museum was all about that -- MOCA did it first, MOCA did it bigger, MOCA had the controversy, MOCA had the press. One thing that MOCA didn't have that PMCA did, was local flavor. In a place like Southern California, with perfect weather, beautiful beaches, and tons of art...

“Iron John” transforms Fullerton

Mar 20, 2011 | 0 Comments

Fullerton, CA Last night, on Saturday evening I found myself walking into some sort of Wonderland that seemed as if it were on the other side of the looking glass... A living room fit for a wizard... a giant chandelier with flickering candle-light hung in the center of this small alternate universe I had stumbled upon... Plush and ornate couches invited me to sit in front of a large fireplace with fluttering flames, falsely warming the room while I take a gander at beautifully rendered and...

Last days to see Clay & Glass National Juried Exhibition!!!!

Mar 3, 2011 | 0 Comments

The ACGA National Exhibit of clay and glass in Brea is closing March 4, and it is truly a must see. If you have any affection towards 3D art and craft-art, then this is a great show to experience. This juried exhibit had over 400 entries all across the U.S., and has picked 80 of the best national pieces to exhibit in this Orange County space. Curator, Jo Lauria is an independent curator and art consultant, and is the former Decorative Arts curator at the Los Angeles County...

Paper Cuts at Fullerton College

Feb 24, 2011 | 0 Comments

Fullerton, CA Stepping into the small white-walled space in the gallery at Fullerton College, I immediately notice bright colored lights shining through out of the corner of my eye, and in front of me a giant pointed pile of brightly colored shreds lying on a short pedestal that reminds me of candy. The Paper Cuts show caught my attention at first because of the well-executed logo design on the invitation card, but kept my interest as soon as I read the list...

The OC Art Blog was created in 2004 as a way to build community and promote the marginalized but dynamic Orange County art scene.

Daisy Chain Fields Sets Bigger ‘Expectations’

Sep 6, 2026

By Maggie Luy Paper decor fluttered overhead as baby doll dresses and flower crowns filled the crowd. Women-owned vendors lined the walkways as festivalgoers moved through the sunlight, surrounded by bursts of color and music. That vibrant atmosphere captured...

The Tipping Point: Einar and Jamex de la Torre at the Laguna Art Museum

Aug 26, 2026

By Mason Fujikawa The Tipping Point is a two-story installation at the Laguna Art Museum by Einar and Jamex de la Torre. The de la Torre brothers, glassblowers by trade, are prolific mixed-media artists who have exhibited internationally for over thirty years. Born in...

42nd Irvine Annual Takes a Closer Look

Aug 10, 2026

By Maggie Luy Take another step and lean in. Ordinary objects reveal deeper stories than they first appear to hold. From delicate threads woven into a portrait to bold images capturing moments of social change, the 42nd Irvine Annual transforms familiar...

Nothing But Net: From Hoop Dreams to Art Scenes at Great Park Gallery

Jul 14, 2026

By Maggie Luy Where does the game end, and the art begin? A basketball court is usually defined by rules and competition. In “GAME! Basketball and Contemporary Art,” that definition expands as the court becomes a surface for design and intervention. The...

The Machine in the Studio: OC Artists and Gallerists Reckon with AI

Jun 12, 2026

By Chris Hoff There’s a particular kind of vertigo that comes with watching a technology arrive faster than the culture can metabolize it. Photographers felt it in the 1840s. Painters felt it again when Photoshop showed up. Now it’s AI’s turn, and the stakes feel...