Past Exhibitions

May 6, 2026 – June 3, 2026

The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce its latest art exhibition, “Circle of Life: Sea to Land” by Jayme Sun Thomas on display at The MAIN (24266 Main Street) now through June 3, 2026. This exhibition features a collection of wildlife photographs captured between 2022 and 2026, highlighting amphibians, mammals and birds in their natural environments.

As a professional wildlife photographer, Thomas focuses on capturing the beauty, innocence and behavior of animals as they interact with their surroundings. Many of the works in this exhibition were photographed at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve  and Placerita Canyon, where she has served as a Docent Naturalist since 2023. Her images reveal intimate moments within the food chain, offering insight into the balance and complexity of nature.

​ Thomas shares a deep commitment to wildlife conservation, drawing attention to the challenges animals face globally, including habitat loss, climate change and human impact. Her background in biochemistry and fine arts photography, combined with years of field observation, allows her to document wildlife with both scientific awareness and artistic sensitivity. Through her work, she strives to capture the “Circle of Life” and inspire a greater respect and understanding of the natural world. Thomas encourages viewers to connect with the subjects of her work and recognize the importance of safeguarding these species for future generations.

Website: sunpuperwolfwildlife.com

Social Media: @sunpuperwolf.photography

March 30, 2026 – May 27, 2026

Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main St. Santa Clarita, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present the Youth Art Exhibit, now on view at the Old Town Newhall Library Branch (24500 Main Street) through May 27, 2026. This exhibition features original artwork submitted to the Youth Art Contest, showcasing the creativity, passion and hard work of local students in grades TK–12. Inspired by this year’s theme, “The World Needs Art,” each piece reflects the unique perspectives of public, private and homeschooled students from across the community in celebration of Youth Art Month. Originally displayed at Art Hop, this collection now continues at the library, offering the community an extended opportunity to experience and celebrate the incredible talent of these young artists.

April 1 – May 6, 2026

The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce its latest art exhibition, “The Art of the Cut” by James McGuire on view at The MAIN (24266 Main Street) now through May 6, 2026. This exhibition features intricate; hand crafted scroll saw works that highlight the natural beauty and character of wood through detailed patterns and precise craftsmanship.

For James McGuire, woodworking is both a craft and a conversation with the material itself. Each piece begins as a simple board and is transformed through careful cutting and thoughtful design into complex forms. His process requires patience, focus and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in works that invite viewers to slow down and appreciate the artistry found in small, deliberate moments.

​ McGuire shares, “I enjoy scroll sawing because it requires patience and focus. Each piece comes together one cut at a time, and concentrating on the pattern allows me to slow down and block out everything else.” His work reflects this meditative approach, where craftsmanship and creativity come together to reveal the hidden potential within each piece of wood.

James McGuire has practiced the art of fretwork for nearly 50 years, developing a style defined by precision and dedication. His work has evolved from simple designs to highly intricate compositions featuring hundreds of individual cuts, often taking weeks to complete. Today, he shares his work at craft fairs throughout the region and continues to explore the expressive possibilities of wood through his detailed creations.

The featured artwork attached to this release is entitled “Two Wolves” by James McGuire.

March 4 – May 20, 2026

The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Spirit of the West,”on view in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall (23920 Valencia Boulevard) now through May 20, 2026. This juried showcase celebrates the legacy, landscapes and cultural imagery of the American West, inviting viewers to reflect on its history, traditions and evolving identity. From desert vistas and rugged terrain to horses and frontier life, “Spirit of the West” explores the stories and symbolism that continue to shape Western identity while highlighting its influence on contemporary artistic expression.

Among the featured artists is Xu Joseph Zhou, whose work reflects a deep connection to the landscapes of the American West. “From open deserts to coastal horizons and mountain ranges, I am continually moved by the scale, light and quiet strength of these environments,” Zhou shares, describing them as symbols of “freedom, resilience and possibility.” Interpreting Western scenery through the lens of Eastern painting philosophy, he seeks to convey Qi, “the vital energy that animates nature and all living things.” By combining mineral pigments and acrylic with layered textures and fluid brushwork, Zhou creates a dialogue between cultures while reflecting his personal journey of belonging within the land he paints.

The exhibiting artists include: Faye Abharian, Rosalie Kessing Annison, Jed R Baguio, Lisa Barr, Claudia Buchinsky, Craig Cartwright, Elizabeth Chislett, Tina Chong, Alex Marie Coons, Susan Contrerad, Helaine Cummins, Ginger DeValue, Joe Doherty, Zachary Dominguez, Meghann Flaherty, Rich Gallego, Meryl Goudey, Keiji Ichikawa, Tim Song Jones, Allison Lauricella, Jennifer Tang Limon, Mary Main, Mark Micchio, Weston Middleton, John Moffitt, Laurie Morgan, Nancy Perkins, Sally Raskoff, Lisa Schindewolf, Maria A Schneider, Carolyn Sell, Rose Smither, Jayme Sun Thomas, Nicki Voss, Therese Verner, Xu Joseph Zhou.

The featured photo is “A Thousand Miles from Home” by Xu Joseph Zhou.

 February 4, 2026 – March 3, 2026

Canyon Country Community Center, 18410 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91351

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “7^th Circuit,” by Yuliia Savenko on view now through March 3, 2026 at the Canyon Country Community Center (18410 Sierra Hwy). This photography exhibition invites viewers into a meditative visual space where familiar perceptions dissolve and meaning emerges through contemplation rather than certainty.

In “7th Circuit,” Savenko presents fog-shrouded urban landscapes that blur the boundary between reality and abstraction. Familiar city forms dissolve into mist, disrupting habitual ways of seeing and encouraging viewers to actively engage in the act of perception. As details fade, the mind fills in what is missing—transforming observation into a creative, introspective experience. The resulting images offer a meditative pause, where ambiguity replaces clarity and meaning emerges through personal reflection.

Yuliia Savenko, born in Ukraine, is a multidisciplinary artist working across photography, painting, video, and installation. Her practice explores vulnerability, presence and the space between inner experience and external reality. She holds a BFA in Photo-Video Art and Graphic Design from the Kyiv National University of Technology and Design and has exhibited extensively at major cultural institutions throughout Ukraine and Europe.

The image attached to this press release is titled “Urban Relic” by Yuliia Savenko.

March 25, 2026 – June 24, 2026

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Dreamscapes,” on display at the Newhall Community Center (22421 Market Street) now through June 24, 2026. This juried exhibition explores the imaginative, surreal and subconscious worlds, inviting viewers into dreamlike environments shaped by memory, emotion and fantasy. From ethereal scenes and abstract visions to symbolic narratives and altered realities, “Dreamscapes” blurs the line between the real and the imagined while celebrating creativity without boundaries.

Among the featured artists is Taia Akulova, whose work reflects a deeply introspective and psychological approach to painting. “My work moves between abstraction and form, translating inner experience into visual language,” Akulova shares. “The paintings unfold like dreamscapes. Spaces where reality softens, time dissolves, and identity becomes fluid,” she explains. Rather than offering escape, Akulova invites viewers into an intimate encounter with inner worlds shaped by intuition, vulnerability and imagination. The featured photo is “Delicate Vibrations” by Taia Akulova.

The exhibiting artists include: Faye Abharian, John H Adkins, Taia Akulova, Georgette Arison, Elizabeth Chislett, John Cowan, Meghann Flaherty, Tim Song Jones, Allison Lauricella, Julia Markovich, Susan Magine, Katie McGuire, Mark Micchio, Jane Mick, Madeline Peng Miller, Danny Muñoz, Justin Poole, Alex Selkowitz, Jayme Sun Thomas, Zuri Timmons, and Stuart Vaughan.

January 20 – April 1, 2026

The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321

ANNOUNCEMENT: “Make Life Beautiful” by Aaron Koscelansky has been extended to April 1, 2026.

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce its latest art exhibition, “Make Life Beautiful” by Aaron Koscelansky on view at The MAIN (24266 Main Street) now through March 2, 2026.

“Make Life Beautiful” is a collection of intricate, psychedelic mandalas and geometric compositions designed to captivate the senses and encourage deep reflection. Each piece is hand-painted on canvas, ranging in size from small (6” x 6”) to large (36” x 48”), using acrylic, fluorescent, and UV-reactive paints. The artworks feature layered symmetry, vibrant color transitions, and hypnotic patterns that invite viewers into a meditative visual journey.

This exhibition explores the relationship between color, symmetry, and consciousness. Mandalas have long been symbols of unity and transformation, and this collection embraces that tradition while infusing it with a modern, psychedelic aesthetic. The use of fluorescent and UV-reactive paints adds an interactive dimension, allowing the works to shift and evolve under different lighting conditions. The pieces are designed to be uplifting and immersive, encouraging viewers to find moments of stillness and inspiration within the complexity of each design.

Q&A with Aaron Koscelansky

The title of your exhibition is “Make Life Beautiful.” What does that phrase mean to you personally and artistically?
“Make Life Beautiful comes from a project I started in Lancaster, CA. There was an open desert behind my apartment complex that would often attract illegally dumped items. I didn’t have the manpower or machinery to remove it all myself, but I did want a more appealing looking neighborhood. I started taking Posca markers on my walks through the desert and would find items to draw on. The idea was to take items that had been discarded, give them new life through creativity, and showcase them as art pieces, leaving them where they were dumped but with a new design. Intentionally making life around me more beautiful. I would leave my Instagram handle (@psychedelicwatermelon) on the pieces I created, and every once in a while, I would receive a message from someone who found an item I had drawn on and taken it home. With a little bit of intentionality, someone’s trash had become someone else’s art.”

Do you have a favorite piece in this exhibit?
“Wavelength of Bees.”

How do you begin your creative process?
“I find an item or canvas that interests me. They can be found, thrifted, or bought, and I’ll usually begin with choosing colors and painting a background. The bright backgrounds of my pieces come first, then I sit with the item/canvas until an idea arrives for what will become the focal point of the piece.”

Who or what are your biggest artistic influences?
“My artistic influences come from lived experience. I enjoy bright colors, symmetry, movies, astronomy, nature, stand up, podcasts and music. I love anything that brings a sense of novelty and joy to everyday life.”

Your work features intricate mandalas and geometric symmetry. What draws you to these forms?
“I’m a fan of psychologists like Jung. He, “felt certain that mandala drawing has the function of integrating psychological division, enhancing psychological harmony, and preserving personality integrity.” I started drawing mandalas after a very difficult period in my life. I also found it had a calming, stay-in-the-present effect. I found myself being able to work for up to five hours on a mandala piece with little to no breaks, and sometimes even without background noise, becoming more comfortable working in silence.”

Do you plan your geometric patterns ahead of time or allow them to evolve as you paint?
“I’ll usually draw the overall shape of the mandalas with a pencil before going in with markers or paint. However, the details within them, like dot work or highlights, evolve as I work.”

What tools or techniques do you use to achieve such precise symmetry and layering?
“I use a compass, or sometimes any circular household object to get the main proportions of the mandalas accurate. A ruler will sometimes be used for longer straight lines. Otherwise, all of my work is hand drawn without stencils, projectors, or VR.”

Your work uses fluorescent and UV-reactive paints. What inspired you to experiment with these materials?
“I enjoy artwork that can play with different light. I’ll use fluorescent, UV-reactive, and metallic elements in my paintings to help bring extra depth to the pieces; allowing the viewer to have different experiences with the same piece depending on which lighting is being used. Like a play-off of 1960’s psychedelic, neon posters.”

What do you hope viewers feel when they experience your work?
“A sense of joy, or a moment or relaxation. I find that children tend to be drawn to my artwork due to the bright colors or my periodic use of cartoon characters they might recognize. But overall, I just want to bring a little joy to the world through my creativity. Making the world a little bit more beautiful through art.”

What is the best piece of advice you have received as an artist?
“You should enjoy the process more than the destination. Fall in love with the journey not the result.”