Summary: “This exhibition celebrates the icons, imagery, and influence of pop culture—inviting artists to explore how entertainment, media, fashion, and technology shape our collective identity. From nostalgic references to contemporary commentary, “Pop Culture” encourages artists to reflect on the trends, symbols, and stories that connect us through shared experiences. The exhibition highlights the creative energy of everyday life and celebrates the ways popular culture continues to inspire, challenge, and unite us through art.”

Deadline: 12/8/25

Location: Newhall Community Center, Newhall

Exhibition Dates: 12/16/25 - 3/25/26

Mediums: Painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, textiles, and mixed-media.

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “The Alhambra City Arts and Cultural Events Commission (C.A.C.E.) extends an invitation to individuals and groups, with priority given to Alhambra residents, to be considered for a month long exhibition in the Alhambra City Hall Lobby Art Gallery. Approved artists will receive notification from staff and assigned an exhibition month.”

Deadline: Ongoing

Location: Alhambra City Hall

Mediums: All hangable artworks

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “The Escondido Arts Partnership presents the sixteenth exhibition highlighting works created in wood, sponsored by Murphy’s Fine Woodworking. Wood workers from the California region are encouraged to submit contemporary furniture, artful furniture, traditional furniture, veneering, scupture, wood carving, marquetry Wood art and wood turning into the exhibition. Curator: Brian Murphy”

Deadline: 12/13/25

Location: Escondido Arts Partnership, Escondido

Exhibition Dates: 1/10/26 - 2/27/26

Mediums: Woodworking

Entry Fee: $40.00 ($30.00 for EAP members) for one, $45.00 ($35.00 for EAP members) for two or $50.00 ($40.00 for EAP members) for three pieces.

Summary: “Surfing Madonna Oceans Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Encinitas, California and was officially formed in 2013 by Robert Nichols and Mark Patterson (artist of the Surfing Madonna mosaic). Our intention is to partner with local arts groups and recognize the excellence of local artists and promote the arts through active engagement between artists and the community. You may submit if you’re a California artist & your original work was made within the past 3 years.”

Deadline: 12/14/25

Location: Escondido Arts Partnership Gallery, Escondido

Exhibition Dates: 1/10/26 - 2/6/26

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “First Light invites artists to explore the powerful symbolism and sensory experience of dawn — the moment light first breaks through darkness. Whether interpreted literally, metaphorically, emotionally, or spiritually, First Light represents new beginnings, awakening, revelation, and the quiet resilience of hope.”

Deadline: 12/15/25

Location: Spring Arts Gallery, Los Angeles

Exhibition Dates: 3/2/26 - 4/21/26

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “This celebrated juried exhibition was founded by Jim Brown in 1975. It provides a unique challenge for the artist by utilizing a small image format. Showcasing San Diego County artists, this event has built in popularity over its multi-year history and is an artist favorite. This years show is sponsored by Village Arts and Education Foundation and Gallery 21.”

Deadline: 12/15/25

Location: Village Arts Center, San Diego

Exhibition Dates: 1/24/26 - 2/22/26

Mediums: All except video/sound and installation art

Entry Fee: $30

Summary: “The city is alive—raw, restless, unpolished. We’re seeking artists who venture into the streets, alleyways, loading docks, transit hubs, industrial edges, and worn corners that rarely make it onto postcards. This exhibition invites plein-air artists to capture the urban environment as it is, not as it’s romanticized.”
Deadline: 12/20/25
Location: Los Angeles Makery, Los Angeles
Exhibition Dates: 1/3/26 - 1/25/26
Mediums: Any medium traditionally used in plein air (painting, drawing, mixed media on paper or board, etc.)
Entry Fee: $25

Summary: “Art of Pride is inviting artists to an Open Call for all works of art that showcases “The Moment is Now”. Meant to inspire and recognize the hope and resilience of our wonderful community during these trying times, we are inviting artists to submit and showcase any art pieces that they believe embody this theme. All media forms are accepted and the deadline to submit is December 20th, 2025.”
Deadline: 12/20/25
Location: San Diego Pride Office Gallery, San Diego
Exhibition Dates: 1/29/26 - 3/13/26
Mediums: “Painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, assemblage, collage, mixed media, digital art, fiber art, ceramic and stained glass. Works must be “hangable” and delivered with the necessary mounting and/or wiring to hang on a wall. No freestanding sculptures accepted at this time.”
Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “The City of San Diego is seeking applications from interested qualified artists to provide public art services for the Emerald Hills Park Public Art Project.  An artist or artist team is sought to design, fabricate and transport permanent, site-specific artwork for the park improvements and consult during installation of artwork at the site by the City. Art Budget: Approximately $70,000”

Deadline: 12/22/25

Location: Emerald Hills Park, San Diego

Mediums: Permanent public art

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “Covet Art Gallery invites artists of all styles and mediums to submit work for our upcoming Eye Candy Exhibition a vibrant, joyful collection of pieces that delight the senses and spark curiosity. We’re looking for fun, unique, and exciting artwork that makes people stop, smile, and feel something. Think bold color, unexpected materials, playful concepts, visual surprises, and anything that instantly catches the eye. Whether your work is sweet, surreal, daring, glossy, whimsical, or downright delicious to look at, we want to see it.”
Deadline: 12/28/25
Location: Covet Art Gallery, Oceanside
Exhibition Dates: 1/17/26 - 2/14/26
Mediums: All
Entry Fee: $25

Summary: “We’re calling in the artists who exist in the in-between — the makers, designers, potters, illustrators, printers, and creative entrepreneurs whose work lands somewhere between fine art and small-batch product line. If you create original work and turn that work into goods people can buy (prints, ceramics, journals, textiles, cards, etc.), this show is yours.”
Deadline: 12/28/25
Location: Not Shockboxx, Hermosa Beach
Exhibition Dates: 1/10/26 - 1/31/26
Mediums: 2D, 3D, mixed media, photography, and digital works
Entry Fee: $25

Summary: “Submit your art – 12″ tall maximum – 3D pieces welcome! The gallery is located in the bustling lobby of the Joslyn Center, right by the parking lot entrance and across from the registration desk – a space that hosts dances, concerts, classes, and more. It’s a great spot to showcase your small but mighty creations!”
Deadline: 12/29/25
Location: The Joslyn Center, Burbank
Exhibition Dates: 1/6/26 - 3/1/26
Mediums: All
Entry Fee: “This is a California Creative Arts hosted show. Members receive priority. If you are not a member, you can join here. We are a nonprofit. Your membership fee is tax deductible, and you keep 100% of your sales. Non-members, if accepted, must become a member or pay a one-time participation fee of $40 (it’s only $10 more for a one-year membership).”

Summary: “OCCCA invites artists to submit their art for a wide-ranging exhibition of text, symbols, printmaking, videos, photography, paintings, sculptures, and new media projects about love.”

Deadline: 12/30/25

Location: Orange County Center For Contemporary Art, Santa Ana

Exhibition Dates: 2/7/26 - 3/21/26

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: “$45.00 for up to three, all entry fees go to support OCCCA, an artist-run, non-profit arts organization, serving the community since 1980.”

Summary: “Looking for a free space to share your artwork with the Orange community? The Library would like to invite local artists to display their artwork at the El Modena Branch Library. Available exhibition rotations begin in January, and each artist’s works will be on display for a 3-month period. Artwork must be suitable for all ages.”

Deadline: Ongoing

Location: El Modena Branch Library, Orange

Exhibition Dates: 3-month periods throughout the year

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “The Fullerton Museum Center is proud to inaugurate the OC Made exhibition, a groundbreaking biennial showcase set to become a signature tradition for the institution. This juried exhibition will feature original artwork from across Orange County, capturing the creative spirit and innovation of our local artists. By showcasing a diverse spectrum of media, from painting and photography to digital media, sculpture, and mixed media, OC Made aims to reflect the rich and evolving nature of the art scene in Orange County, California.”

Deadline: 1/10/26

Location: Fullerton Museum Center

Exhibition Dates: 3/21/26 - 6/7/26

Mediums: Painting, photography, digital media, sculpture, and mixed media

Entry Fee: $20

Summary: “Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) is pleased to invite textile and fiber artists for solo or group exhibitions to submit proposals to exhibit in our galleries in 2027. VMOTA hosts three exhibition cycles for our main galleries and six exhibition cycles for our Spotlight Gallery. We seek to exhibit a variety of artists working in various textile and fiber art mediums.”

Deadline: 1/15/26

Location: Visions Museum of Textile Art, San Diego

Mediums: Textile and fiber art

Entry Fee: $20 for VMOTA members, $25 for non-members

Summary: “For over a decade, The Crow Show has been a celebrated tradition in San Diego, uniting artists from across the nation in a shared fascination with the enigmatic crow. Revered in cultures around the world, the crow has long been a symbol of mystery, transformation, and intelligence. Whether as a harbinger of change or a messenger of hope, these birds captivate our imaginations. This annual exhibition invites artists to explore the crow’s many faces—whether rooted in reality or soaring through the realms of fantasy. What does the crow embody for you?”

Deadline: 1/17/26

Location: The Studio Door, San Diego

Exhibition Dates: 3/6/26 - 3/29/26

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: $35

Summary: “Dorado 806 invites you to submit artwork on the theme of California Dreaming. Our intention is to showcase the depth, the breadth, the beauty, the history, and particularly, the strong community of California with her spectrum of unique perspectives.”
Deadline: 1/23/26
Location: Dorado 806, Santa Monica
Exhibition Dates: 3/8/26 - 4/30/26
Mediums: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Fiber, Photography, Sculpture
Entry Fee: $30

Summary: “SFVACC invites artists to explore the expressive force of color in all its forms — from the saturated and electric to the subtle and restrained. This exhibition looks at the interplay between hues, values, and intensities, and how contrast can spark emotion, define space, or disrupt expectation. We welcome work that examines color as language, as sensation, and as an agent of mood, movement, or meaning.”
Deadline: 1/25/26
Location: TAG Gallery, Los Angeles
Exhibition Dates: 2/25/26 - 3/20/26
Mediums: All
Entry Fee: $40. (Early Bird Discount of $10 use code Chroma10 until December 31, 2025)

Summary: “As part of the City of Glendale’s initiative to become a prime arts and culture destination, up to ten long-term to permanent artwork installations will be commissioned, developed and established over the course of the next few years. These landmark installations will be strategically placed throughout the City in locations that focus on public accessibility and encourage public engagement and interactivity. This RFQ outlines three current art opportunities across the City of Glendale.”

Deadline: 1/30/26

Location: Various locations throughout Glendale

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “This annual juried exhibit showcases artwork from all over the state of California and explores creative movements happening in the state. Open to all living artists ages 18+ residing in California. All entries must be original, completed in the past three years, and not previously shown at the Brea Gallery.”

Deadline: 2/6/26

Location: Brea Gallery, Brea

Exhibition Dates: 4/25/26 - 6/28/26

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: $10 per entry during the month of October 2025; $20 per entry beginning November 1st through the close of the call

Summary: “Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) is proud to announce the call for entries for Quilt Visions 2026, the museum’s 27th international juried exhibition. Exhibition jurors will select work exemplifying art quilting at the highest level of quality, innovation, surface design techniques, excellence in composition, and craftsmanship.”

Deadline: 2/9/26

Location: Visions Museum of Textile Art, San Diego

Exhibition Dates: 10/23/26 - 1/16/27

Mediums: Textile art

Entry Fee: $40 for all VMOTA members and $50 for non-members (up to 3 works)

Summary: “Ask yourself the following question, what moves my soul? This open call is a love letter to your soul, inviting you to tap into any medium and show us those exact things that get your soul moving. It can be the passions that ignite your creativity, callings that give you a sense of purpose, or strong feelings that move you to action. If this question reminds you of what your soul has been missing, then reconnect with those things and share that with us through your art! We want to peek into what, or who, shapes your soul.”

Deadline: 2/9/26

Location: South Gate Art Gallery, South Gate

Exhibition Dates: 4/18/26 - 6/6/26

Mediums: All

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “Curated by A. Laura Brody and Lisa Tomczeszyn. This is a call for wearable art, dipping into the world of fantasy, costume design, and fashion ideas that merge and float between art, fashion, and craftsmanship.”

Deadline: 2/15/26

Location: Los Angeles Makery, Los Angeles

Exhibition Dates: 4/2/26 - 5/26/26

Mediums: Wearable art

Entry Fee: $20

Summary: “A Woman’s Place: Framing the Future” envisions a woman’s place as an ever-expanding horizon—one that redefines the trajectory of our collective future. Informed by memory, story, and lived experience, this exhibition explores how shifting perspectives on womanhood are documented, questioned, and celebrated through art. The artists showcased in this exhibition will engage in a vital dialogue between past aspirations and present possibilities, forging new pathways for art and society alike. Their works both challenge traditional boundaries and honor the complexity of women's experiences across generations and cultures.”
Deadline: 2/24/26
Location: The Ebell of Los Angeles
Exhibition Dates: 3/19/26 - 4/22/26
Mediums: 2D artwork
Entry Fee: $25

Summary: “The City of Laguna Beach Banner Competition is a project of the Arts Commission. Artists are provided with banner material on which to paint original artwork. The completed banners are displayed on lampposts throughout the city of Laguna Beach during June, July and August and celebrate the summer season. The completed banners are temporary and will be displayed when and where the City desires for up to 7 years or based on condition. Open to Orange County, CA residents, 18 years of age or older. $4,000 will be awarded for all completed banners selected.”

Deadline: 3/2/26

Location: Various locations throughout Laguna Beach

Mediums: Drawing, painting

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “The City of Laguna Beach Council Chamber Banner Competition is a project of the Arts Commission. Selected artists are provided with banner material on which to paint original artwork. The completed banners are displayed in the City of Laguna Beach Council Chambers. Completed banners will be awarded a $900 honorarium.”
Deadline: 3/2/26
Location: Various locations throughout Laguna Beach
Mediums: Painting
Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “We are not generally interested in ceramics where the sole focus is process and material. We are looking for ceramics that hold a narrative or figurative focus. Interesting processes and materials will be considered.”

Deadline: 3/22/26

Location: La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

Exhibition Dates: 5/1/26 - 5/31/26

Mediums: Ceramics

Entry Fee: No fee

Summary: “The 9th Annual PROUD+ Exhibition will be held June 19 - July 31, 2026, during San Diego Pride Month, showcasing the work of LGBTQ+ artists from across the country. Produced by The Studio Door, this national exhibition celebrates the unique perspectives and voices of the LGBTQ+ community through contemporary art.”

Deadline: 5/9/26

Location: The Studio Door, San Diego

Exhibition Dates: 6/19/26 - 7/31/26

Mediums: “Painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, assemblage, collage, mixed media, fiber art, artist book, and sculpture. Please note some restrictions apply to glass, stained glass, ceramics, and stoneware due to unsafe shipping practices by FedEx, UPS, and USPS. Oversized jewelry that can be defined as fine art is acceptable for this show.”

Entry Fee: $35

Summary: “La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, California, showcases figurative and narrative paintings and unusual sculptures. The Exhibition will take place on August 7, 2026 and run through August until the 31st, 2026. Artists need to be 18+ years of age to participate. Wall hanging artwork must not exceed 20 inches on the longest dimension. Sculpture work cannot exceed 20 inches in width or depth.” 
Deadline: 5/15/26
Location: La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles
Exhibition Dates: 8/7/26 - 8/31/26
Mediums: All
Entry Fee: No fee