Saturday, May 16, 2026 Art Parties & Events are truly bouncing all over Los Angeles. So depending on where you live, we literally have something for everyone. We have popular events taking place like the Beverly Hills Art show as well as the Bergamot Station Spring Open House. Plus we have included a varied assortment of openings, art talks, walkthroughs,
May 16, 2026 Art Parties & Events
UNESCO International Day of Light: LightFest 3.0, a two day celebration of arts and science holds its final day. The event features AI microscopy and spectroscopy as well as media arts, sustainability, and creative expression. It is presented by UCLA Art|Sci Center in collaboration with the Advanced Light Microscopy & Spectroscopy (ALMS) Lab at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) and the Smart Image Content Research Center at Chung-Ang University, Korea. Find out more about LIghtFest 3.0 and view the schedule and also purchase tickets. Event: 9:30am-8pm; California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), UCLA Campus, 570 Westwood Plaza, LA 90095; https://alms.cnsi.ucla.edu/
————————————————————————————–
Beverly Hills
Spring Edition of the Beverly Hills Art Show returns. While it begins today, it will continue through the weekend. It is one of my favorite outdoor art festivals.
LAArtParty has been a sponsor for many years, and I love strolling in the beautiful park and enjoying all of the art. If you have yet to attend, be sure to do so this weekend. Best of all – it’s free and you can speak directly to the artist and of course buy some original art.
Event: 10am-6pm; It runs along Santa Monica Boulevard, from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive and will feature a Beer & Wine Garden, gourmet food, refreshing beverage trucks, artist demonstrations and more! For more information, visit beverlyhills.org/artshow.
————————————————————————————–
Santa Monica
Bergamot Station Arts Center will host their annual Spring Open today. Many galleries and cultural venues will participate with artist talks, walk-throughs, and openings. There will be live music, food trucks, and more. This year curator Hannah Sloan will be offering free guided tour of current exhibitions at Bergamot Station Arts Center during the Spring Open House. Tour 1 begins at 12pm, Tour 2 at 2:30pm. Space is limited. So, please RSVP to hannah@hannahsloan.com with your preferred time and the number of people in your party.
bG Gallery (A2) debuts a new exhibition titled Spring is in the Air. The group show is perfect for the Spring Open House since it celebrates the season. bG Gallery, A2, https://santamonica.bgartdealings.com/
SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS (A5) will be open all day hosting an early Fall Auction Preview. Attendees can be the first to view works up for auction by artists such as Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, and Rufino Tamayo, in addition to many other Californian and international masters. SANTA MONICA AUCTIONS (A5), https://www.smauctions.com/
Galerie XII (B2) will also be open. It’s current exhibitions on view are Dizzy and The Moment Color Breathes – https://www.galeriexii.com/
Von Lintel Gallery hosts a closing for Dopamine, Embodied Presence by Nicolette Spear. Closing: 4-7pm; Von Lintel Gallery (A7); https://www.vonlintel.com/
Craig Krull Gallery (B3) participates in the Spring event with an opening art party for three exhibitions. These include: Peter Olson: Flatline, Ayin Es: Relative Strangers, as well as Valiente Pastel: Small World. All shows will run through July 4, 2026; The gallery will be open all day, but the official opening art party: 5-7pm; Craig Krull Gallery (B3), https://www.craigkrullgallery.com/
Needless to say many more galleries will be open, so confirm on the website, or just show up. The arts center offers FREE parking or hop on the Metro and it will bring you right to it. Event: 11am-7pm; If you prefer some solitude, go early, if not, there will be a lot more people in the afternoon; Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404; https://www.craigkrullgallery.com/
————————————————————————————–
Venice Beach
The Venice Family Clinic Art Exhibition + Auction will be closing soon – tomorrow May 17, 2026. This year’s Signature Artist is the talented Alison Saar. Enjoy and bid on the work of emerging artists as well as well known creatives such as Ed Ruscha, Helen Pashgian, Kenny Scharf, Ed Moses, Frances Stark, as well as many more.
As always the proceeds from the auction support Venice Family Clinic’s innovative programs and services, providing high-quality health care to more than 45,000 people in need across the Westside of Los Angeles, Inglewood, and the South Bay. Visit the website for additional info. 11am-6pm; Venice Art Walk Gallery, 910 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291; http://venicefamilyclinic.org/artexhibition
————————————————————————————–
Mid City
Enjoy a day filled with culture, community and connection at the annual Mid City Arts & Music Festival. It’s free to the public and spotlights local artists, musicians, community organizations, as well as businesses. The event will feature food trucks, live music, live art, and the rich cultural diversity that makes Mid City great. Mid City Arts & Music Festival: 12-7pm; Free admission; Mid City Arts + Music Festival, 4510 W Washington Blvd., LA; https://www.midcityfestival.com/
————————————————————————————–
San Pedro
CIACLA (Contemporary Irish Arts Center LA) and in MART Gallery & Studios, 18th Street Arts Center, and Angels Gate Cultural Center collaborate to co- present The Irish Contemporaries {V}. Two shows will be on view at different locations. One exhibit already opened yesterday in Santa Monica. The second show will be held today at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro. The work of artists Deirdre Mulrooney & Gearóid O’Dea are scheduled to appear in both shows. However today’s event includes additional art from Arthur Rosa, Brenda Welsh, Carol Anne McChrystal, Elisabeth Banim, Inés Pesado Catrufo, Jenny Cosgrave, Jerry McGrath, Paul James Kearney, Pete Michels, Shaun O’Connor, and Sheila McMullin & Sean McGuirk. Opening: 1pm; Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S Gaffey St, San Pedro; https://angelsgateart.org/; https://www.facebook.com/CIACLA/
————————————————————————————–
Santa Monica
dnj Gallery hosts an artist/patient/medical professional conversation today. The event takes place in conjunction with its current exhibition – Unpack your Mind: a group show by artists with mental health conditions.
It will feature dnj Gallery artists – Mila Fejzo (see above image, Emotional Rescuing, 2019) and Donna Bernstein, as well as Didi Hirsch- Kris Eterea, LCSW. Moreover the talk will be moderated by Ted Meyer founder of Art and Med. Read the dnj Gallery May Feature for additional info about the current exhibition. Art Talk: 2pm; dnj Gallery, 3015 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405; https://www.dnjgallery.net
————————————————————————————–
Mid City
Artist Maria Greenshields-Ziman will take viewers on a walkthrough of her solo show Illuminating Matter at Matter Studio Gallery. Enjoy a behind the scenes description of her artistic process. The exhibition runs through May 24, 2026: Walkthrough 4-6pm; Matter Studio Gallery, 5080 W. Pico Blvd., LA, 90019; https://matterstudiogallery.com/
————————————————————————————–
Lincoln Heights
Wonzimer Gallery hosts an art talk, and walkthrough held in conjunction with the exhibition DegreeZero: Utopia / Dystopia in Contemporary Art.
This thirteen artist group exhibition examines the grey area between the oppositional states of utopia and dystopia. Art Talk/Walkthrough: 4-6pm; Wonzimer Gallery, 341 S Avenue 17, LA 90031; https://www.wonzimer.com/
————————————————————————————–
Venice
Support the popular non profit Venice Arts, as it hosts its Pour with a Purpose. Enjoy delicious wines, light bites, and DJ-spun vibes while giving back. Gather in Venice for a relaxed, feel-good experience supporting creative opportunities for young artists. Sip, connect, and celebrate the power of storytelling and community—and thanks to a generous $10,000 1:1 match from Cowper Law LLP, every dollar raised will be doubled. Every glass poured goes twice as far in igniting the next generation of voices. Event: 5-7pm; Admission; $50; Venice Arts, 13445 Beach Ave., 90292; https://www.venicearts.org/
————————————————————————————–
Mount Wilson
MWO presents The Past and Future of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey tonight. The first Saturday Evening Talks & Telescopes series of the season features guest speaker Michael Blanton of Carnegie Observatories. He will explore how the Sloan Digital Sky Survey transformed astronomy and continues to shape modern astrophysics. The evening will start with an hour long lecture in MWO’s auditorium. Next attendees can enjoy a picnic(bring your own, or purchase from a food truck/caterer) Then the stargazing commences. Guests can utilize Mount Wilson’s 60-inch as well as 100-inch telescopes. These are some of largest in the world open to the public. Additional viewing is hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Talks & Telescopes Event: 5:30-11:45pm; Admission: $50; Advance purchase is recommended; Mount Wilson Observatory, 100 Mt. Wilson Circle Rd.,Mount Wilson, CA 91023; https://www.mtwilson.edu/lectures/
————————————————————————————–
East Hollywood
Track 16 throws an opening art party for Snafu by Sandow Birk while Snafu reveals a fairy tale gone wrong, it mocks the current political climate.
The solo show will remain on view through July 11, 2026; Art Party: 6-9pm; Track 16, 706 Heliotrope Drive, LA, 90029; https://www.track16.com
————————————————————————————–
Hollywood
Make Room debuts Sarah Rosalena’s exhibition layer by layer. The solo show bringing together a new body of handwoven works that shift and collapse spatial dimensionality between landscape and atmosphere. layer by layer runs through June 20, 2026; Art Party: 6-9pm; Make Room, 6361 Waring Ave, LA, 90038; https://www.makeroom.la
————————————————————————————–
Beyond Baroque hosts its spring fundraiser! The evening will feature wine tastings paired with poetry, and will be held in the Poets’ Garden. All of the proceeds will benefit Beyond Baroque’s programming and its mission to expand opportunities for a diverse literary community. It truly is a great cause as Beyond Baroque is the oldest literary organization in Los Angeles. Visit the website to find out more. Fundraiser: 6pm; Admission is $75 per person; $65 for members; Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291; http://beyondbaroque.org
————————————————————————————–
Mid City
Brasroots District performances have now been extended through June, 2026, so the party continues. The shows take place in conjunction with its self titled album Brassroots District: LA ’74. The immersive theater-concert takes place at Jewel’s Catch One and brings audiences back to the year 1974. Moreover the band released a new single, “Takin’ Back Day Dreamin’,” featuring Robert Randolph. The release follows growing buzz around fan favorite “You Caught Me Baby.” One of our staff attended this experience and absolutely loved it, moreover, he is going back with his wife.
For more info, see the Brassroots District Feature. Or call 323-596-1973; Tickets begin at $49, fees may apply; Performance: 6:30pm; Jewel’s Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019; http://BrassrootsDistrict.com
————————————————————————————–
Downtown…It’s a big night for Corey Helford, as Now, and Forevermore by Pop Surrealist artist Brandi Milne opens in the main gallery. Additionally in Gallery 2, the work of automotive artist Dave Shuten, street artist Fabez and Argentinean born skateboard culturalist Ramiro Davaro-Comas are on view. Finally Oasis by pop surrealist artist Andrea Guzzetta opens in Gallery 3. All exhibitions will run through June 20, 2026; Art Party: 7-11pm; Corey Helford Gallery, 571 S. Anderson St. LA, 90033; https://coreyhelfordgallery.com/shows
————————————————————————————–
Downtown
The run of Colored People’s Time: A History Play by Leslie Lee at the Robey Theatre Company is coming to an end soon (tomorrow). The play, directed by Ben Guillory, is an examination of the lives of Black Americans from 1865-1958. This is a wonderful theatre founded by Danny Glover and Ben Guillory.
Danny Glover and Ben Guillory. Photo courtesy of The Robey Theatre Company
The theatre is located on the third floor of the building, with nearby parking often listed at the Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking Structure. Performance: 8pm; Admission starts at $34; The Robey Theatre Company is located at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) in Downtown Los Angeles at 514 S. Spring St, LA, 90013; https://www.therobeytheatrecompany.org
————————————————————————————–
For additional art exhibitions, and performances as well as culinary events, see LAArtParty’s Upcoming Events Page.
Read more about Arts and Entertainment throughout the world on our sister site EatTravelGo.com, an art inspired travel site.
Or enjoy artist / gallerist interviews on our Art Talk Page.
