Santa Monica Exhibit Showcases Artists Silenced by Pandemic

The exhibit features a wide spectrum of visual art that emerged from a period defined by social upheaval, personal introspection, and global disruption

A new art exhibit opening at the Annenberg Community Beach House this week gives overdue recognition to artists whose work went unseen during the pandemic. Titled “Santa Monica Artists in Residence, 2020–2024,” the retrospective highlights those who participated in the city’s Beach House and Camera Obscura Art Lab residency programs but were unable to showcase their work publicly due to COVID-19 closures.

Running from May 15 through October 5, the exhibit features a wide spectrum of visual art that emerged from a period defined by social upheaval, personal introspection, and global disruption. The selected works reflect themes such as climate change, bodily autonomy, displacement, and identity. Artists use diverse media—from painting and photography to sculpture and installation—to explore internal and external landscapes shaped by isolation and resilience.

The City of Santa Monica’s Cultural Affairs Division will host an opening reception on May 18 from 4 to 6 p.m., coinciding with the second installment of Take A Moment: An Unplugged Series in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month. The public is invited to attend.

The Artist Residency Program at the Annenberg Beach House began in 2009 but was suspended during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Camera Obscura program continued in a limited capacity, offering 14-week residencies for six artists annually. City officials say they will announce the next round of residency recipients in the coming months.

Featured artists include Chuck Hohng, whose mixed media works bridge Korean and American identity; Dakota Noot, whose colorful paintings address queer identity through fantastical imagery; and Edwin Ushiro, whose layered, nostalgic compositions draw from Hawaiian folklore. Other highlights include immersive installations by Flora Kao and photography from Georgina Reskala and Marzieh Karimi that interrogate memory and displacement.

In addition to the main exhibition, works in video, performance, and digital media created by past residents—including Anna Luisa Petrisko, Diane Williams, and Christian Sampson—are also acknowledged as part of the broader initiative to honor creative expression born during the pandemic.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

in News, Upbeat
Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Controversial Rebuilding Authority Delayed by Sen. Allen

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The pause follows concerns raised weeks ago when the proposal sought to create an agency run by political appointees to...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Fire Survivors Urged to Shape Rebuilding Efforts with Digital Feedback Platform

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The initiative, launched in February, marks California’s first large-scale use of a dedicated digital tool to gather wildfire survivor feedback...

(Video) Italian Eatery Finds New West LA Home after Wildfire Displacement

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Cinque Terra, a longstanding Palisadian establishment, has brought its Northern Italian cuisine to Rose Avenue Italian Eatery Finds New West...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

County Launches AI Pilot to Speed Rebuilding After Fires

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The pilot targets early adopters whose homes, located in R-1 residential zones, were damaged by the wildfires Los Angeles County...

Santa Monica Man Arrested for Allegedly Exporting Electronics to Iran

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Ostovari, identified as the CEO of a Tehran-based engineering firm, allegedly orchestrated the scheme since 2018  A 66-year-old Santa Monica...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

ICE Raids Disrupt Labor in Fire Recovery Efforts: REPORT

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Immigrants, comprising about 75% of Los Angeles County’s construction workforce with nearly half undocumented, per a Bay Area Council analysis,...