The Best San Diego Art Galleries, According to Local Gallerists

“Adelman Fine Art is a boutique gallery in Little Italy that is easy to walk to from neighboring restaurants and features bold and bright works, many from artists who are based in San Diego,” Sparks says.

“Distinction Gallery is a well-established gallery in Escondido. The primary genres of work shown are Contemporary Realism, Surrealism and Urban Art with a focus on the figure,” Sparks says. “The gallery has recently renovated the space to include a bar and continues to support emerging artists and teens with its nonprofit called ArtHatch.”

“Art Produce is an artist-run storefront in the diverse and historic community of North Park,” Sparks explains. “While the gallery is open by appointment only, the gallery installations are viewable to the public from the sidewalk due to the large storefront windows. Exhibitions are often installation-based or sculptural.”

“Artist Irina Negulescu has transformed her studio to showcase exhibitions featuring not only her work, but other artists who share similar styles (namely figural, sensual and expressive),” Sparks says.

“Madison Gallery showcases contemporary artwork from both emerging, mid-career and established artists, and is located in Solana Beach,” Sparks explains. “The gallery also offers in-home collection curatorial services, personal collection development and curating, on-site consultation, virtual previews and international sourcing.”

“[This space is an] experimental center for the arts with strong community ties that always has interesting and provocative exhibitions that make you think,” Basile and Martino say. “It’s comprised of multiple galleries and exhibition spaces, housed inside an old industrial building in Logan Heights.”

“This hidden gem operates with sketchy hours (by luck and appointment only),” Basile and Martino, who own the space, point out. “However, if you make it into the former warehouse in Barrio Logan, it features solid exhibitions focusing on the powerful axis of experience and aesthetics that runs from Tijuana to Los Angeles through San Diego. Bonus: Don’t miss ‘Barrio Tiki,’ San Diego’s most unique tiki-themed space, hidden in the back, located in a room filled with paintings that leads to an adjacent patio designed by artist C. Martino.”

“This big, new space, a move necessitated after a rent hike, retains the same passionate commitment to featuring the best and brightest in Chicano art and beyond,” Basile and Martino explain. “La Bodega, located in what used to be a steel warehouse on National Avenue – less than a mile from the original location it held for six years – is the beating heart of Barrio Logan’s vibrant local arts community.”

“Quint Gallery is the gold standard for contemporary art in San Diego,” Basile and Martino say. “It features blue-chip national and international artists, while also maintaining room for regional standouts and local up-and-comers.”

“This scrappy, much-loved creative space adds a lot to the local community and arts culture,” Basile and Martino say. “Teros Gallery hosts awesome events on the regular, with an inviting, open atmosphere that welcomes both neighborhood regulars and first-time visitors alike.”

“Thumbprint, the well-established gallery in La Jolla, provides an eclectic and engaging atmosphere to view art by local, national and international artists,” Basile and Martino explain. “The space features pop-ups in addition to the monthly exhibitions that showcase emerging, mid-career and established artists with a particular focus on contemporary pop culture, nostalgia, Urban Art and Pop Surrealism.”