Top 10 places to visit for art lovers in Long Beach, California

The Long Beach art community is a has always embraced us with open arms. Before we started teaching our painting classes, we lived there for a couple of years and we really fell in love with all that Long Beach has to offer. You could spend weeks roaming the streets of long beach and still find a new mural or public piece of art, which is part of what makes Long Beach so special! It was only a matter of time we compiled some of our favorite places for art lovers in Long Beach.

1. Long Beach Museum of Art

Long Beach Museum of Art – 2300 East Ocean Boulevard

The Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA) was founded in 1950 as a municipal art center for the city of Long Beach. Since its inception, the Museum has been housed in the historic 1911 Elizabeth Milbank Anderson House. In 1957, the Anderson House was designated as the Long Beach Museum of Art, at which time the Museum began acquiring a permanent collection. Since then this magical place has housed and continues to exhibit some incredible artwork for all to enjoy!

Admission:
FREE – LBMA Members and Children under 12
$10 Adults
$8 Students (with I.D.) and Seniors 62+
Free admission after 3 p.m. on Thursdays and half price admission all day Friday.

Galleries & Store Hours:
Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday – Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Website: https://www.lbma.org/

2. Museum of Latin American Art

Museum of Latin American Art – 628 Alamitos Avenue

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in 1996 in Long Beach, California and serves the greater Los Angeles area. MOLAA is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art. Since its inception, MOLAA has doubled its size and added a 15,000 sq. ft. sculpture garden. Its permanent collection now numbers over 1,600 works of art.
The Museum of Latin American Art expands knowledge and appreciation of modern and contemporary Latin American art through its Collection, ground-breaking Exhibitions, stimulating Educational Programs, and engaging Cultural Events.

Website: https://molaa.org/

3. The Dark Art Emporium

The Dark Art Emporium – 256 Elm Ave

Located in beautiful downtown Long Beach, Ca., The Dark Art Emporium is a diverse art gallery environment dedicated to showcasing the artists and creators that often fly under the radar of most people’s perception of fine art.

Here you will find everything from real human skulls, creepy dolls, unorthodox taxidermy, to low brow, and dark fine art.

Website: https://www.darkartemporium.com/

4. Hellada Art Center

Hellada Art Center – 117 Linden Ave.

Hellada is a community environment for self-expression and art retail. A staple in the art community in the heart of the East Village Arts District. You can find various types of art, pop in for some live music, classes, workshops and much more!

Website: http://www.hellada.us/

5. Long Beach Art Walk

Long Beach Art Walk – 2300 East Ocean Boulevard

The best way to get a feel for the local art scene is to check out the local art walk. Head on down to the East Village Arts District the second Saturday of each month for an art filled adventure. Walk the route that expands 6 blocks with 10 Galleries, 21 Murals, and 28 businesses with art!

Every Second Saturday of the month from 4:00 – 10:00PM

Website: http://lbartwalk.org/

6. The Paint Sesh

The Paint Sesh in Long Beach – Multiple locations in Long Beach and Southern California

If you’re feeling inspired after checking out your favorite galleries and museums, we have the place for you! The Paint Sesh is a painting experience for creative souls at heart. Let loose with fun music, drinks and some acrylic paint. Thier friendly instructor, will guide you step-by-step through the class to create your own masterpiece. They even encourage thier customers to embrace their free-spirit artistic selves & paint whatever they want to! If you’re looking to have some fun by being creative, they are your art therapy outlet with multiple locations in Long Beach.  Who knows, you might just discover your inner Frida or Van Gogh in the process.

Website: https://thepaintsesh.com/seshs

7. C.A.C.t.T.U.S.

CREATIVE ARTS COALITION TO TRANSFORM URBAN SPACE – 326 Elm Ave.

Creative Arts Coalition to Transform Urban Space (CACtTUS) is a donation based project space for emerging contemporary artists. Located in the East Village Arts District of Long Beach CA, it was established in January 2017 by Jorge Mujica and Mayra Serna as a way of elevating the conscience of the community by converting their living space into an incubator for transformative ideas. CACtTUS, a live/work project space is meant to serve as a place for risks to be taken by invited local, national, and international artists to utilize as a platform to express themselves and push the envelope beyond their tabletop, living room, garage, or studio and into Mujica and Sernas living space.

Website: https://www.cacttuslb.org/

8. The Collaborative Gallery

The Collaborative Gallery – 421 W Broadway

The Collaborative Gallery is a project of the Arts Council for Long Beach. It presents exhibitions curated from the Artist Registry to raise awareness of both established and emerging artists plus innovative approaches to art.

Website: http://artslb.org/artist-registry/collaborative-gallery/

9. University Art Museum, CSULB

University Art Museum – 1250 Bellflower Boulevard

Website: https://www.csulb.edu/university-art-museum

10. Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum

Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum – 695 Alamitos Ave

The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum is the first museum dedicated to Pacific Island art and culture in the US. The mission of PIEAM is to incorporate the diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands, with a focus on Micronesia, into a permanent collection, educational programs, rotating exhibits, and living arts.

Website: https://www.pieam.org/