Eight Hidden Gems for Orange County Arts Lovers
- Ashley Ryan
- May 9
- 7 min read
Updated: May 17
Expand your mind and embrace creativity at these lesser-known Orange County landmarks.
Institutions like the Orange County Museum of Art, Laguna Art Museum, Segerstrom Center for the Arts and Bowers Museum are pillars Orange County’s arts scene. Paired with galleries galore, exhibitions at local cultural centers and iconic events ranging from Pageant of the Masters, the OC Fair and the Laguna Plein Air Painting Invitational to Laguna Beach’s renowned summer art festivals, you’ve got the recipe for an immersive experience that draws in visual and performing arts enthusiasts from all over the world.
But the region is also home to several hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for paintings, dance, cinema, photography or music, these local destinations showcase unique displays of creativity, storytelling and technique, giving us the chance to support under-recognized artists and venues simply hoping to add some beauty to the world.
In the Museum of Make Believe, the enchanted forest, left, and the 7-foot dragon. Photos courtesy of Museum of Make Believe
Possibly the most unique addition to the Orange County arts scene in a while, the Museum of Make Believe recently celebrated its one-year anniversary in Laguna Beach. Though small, this art space is filled with big imagination, allowing guests to immerse themselves in a whimsical world of make believe. “Every tree, trail and tucked-away corner is handcrafted with care, blending sculpture, set design, fine art, music and original storytelling to create a world that feels alive with wonder,” said Amy Mitchell, the museum’s executive director. “As visitors explore the forest, they uncover hidden narratives, solve riddles, and discover characters and creatures that exist only within these enchanted woods. It’s not just about looking; it’s about feeling, imagining and becoming part of the tale.”
The artwork is designed with children in mind, but appeals to those of all ages, designed by Amy’s husband and the museum’s art director, Geoff Mitchell. Stop by to experience the inaugural exhibit, “Ghost Stories & Fairy Tales,” which includes paintings, miniatures, written stories and more, plus the Starlight Park vintage radio corner and the impressive 7-foot tall dragon, guarding her newly hatched baby, Fricka the Brave.
PHOTO 1: A historic photo from the forthcoming “The Great Rescue of 1925: Centennial Commemoration.” PHOTO 2: Art pieces incorporated into the flora at Sherman Library & Gardens. PHOTO 3: A Backhausdance performer in Sherman Library & Gardens’ Tropical Conservatory. Photos courtesy of Sherman Library & Gardens
Largely known as a stunning botanical garden nestled in the heart of Corona del Mar in Newport Beach, this vibrant outdoor oasis also offers a wide range of art-related exhibits and activities. Venture into the library to discover collections of landscape paintings by local artists, including William Wendt, Edgar Payne, Anna Althea Hills and more, as well as 30,000 historic photographs from all over Southern California.
A forthcoming installation in June will also explore Orange County’s surf culture through art, conversation and music. Outdoors, among the lush plants and blooming flowers, the garden also hosts public art displays in its Central Patio Room as well as the Tea Garden, including musical performances during the Baroque Music Festival, dance performances from local troupe Backhausdance and impressive installations of glass art, “living rooms,” sculptures and more. Aspiring artists can get involved here as well with workshops in the garden.
This nonprofit art center in downtown Santa Ana is a unique collaboration between the city and California State University, Fullerton’s College of the Arts, aiming to engage students and artists as well as the entire Orange County community. Housing the Grand Central Main Gallery and Project Room, where exhibits and installations are held regularly, it is also home to a theater, cafe, teaching gallery and live-in studio spaces, including one for an international artist-in-residence program.
“This innovative center serves as a living and learning space, offering artists-in-residence the opportunity to develop groundbreaking projects alongside local communities,” said John Spiak, director and chief curator at GCAC. “The center hosts exhibitions, performances and educational programs that challenge and inspire, fostering an environment where art becomes a catalyst for social change.”
Stop by throughout the summer to view a current project, titled “Joshua-Michele Ross and Hope Meng: To Be Among Friends,” which recalls a virtual pandemic performance in which Ross gathered more than 900 statements revealing the desires of viewers from more than 35 countries. This new collaboration with Meng takes those desires and transforms them into an immersive time capsule in an elevator at the center, with three hours worth of audio on a loop revealing messages of togetherness and community.
Isamu Noguchi’s “California Scenario” in Costa Mesa: PHOTO 1: An overhead shot. PHOTO 2: The sculpture garden is located in a business complex near Segerstrom Center for the Arts. PHOTO 3: A tranquil moment in the heart of the city. Photos courtesy of The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum/Tim Street-Porter
Hidden in Pacific Arts Plaza, a business complex near Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Isamu Noguchi’s “California Scenario” sculpture garden is a peaceful escape nestled in the heart of the city. Created in the early 1980s at the behest of arts patriarch Henry Segerstrom, the 1.6-acre garden was originally intended to be a fountain. “Expanding upon the idea, the resulting project became one of Noguchi’s most fully-integrated landscape compositions,” said a spokesperson at the Noguchi Museum in New York. “Harmonizing nature and design, this unique site epitomizes Noguchi’s belief that sculpture should be experiential and ‘a free and common experience.’ ”
Seven diverse sculptural elements make up the park, exploring the intersection of drama and tranquility. “It is a delightful place to spend a few minutes or hours in reflection in a unique and artistic nature setting,” said Debra Gunn Downing, executive director of marketing for nearby South Coast Plaza. “The installation symbolizes California’s diverse ecosystems, from the redwoods to the deserts and mountains, and even pays homage to the Segerstrom family with a large lima bean sculpture (Spirit of the Lima Bean) reflecting the heritage of the land beneath it.”
The recent “More Than You Can Chew” exhibit at the Great Park Gallery. Photos courtesy of City of Irvine
Irvine’s Great Park is known for its flurry of offerings: sports fields, playgrounds, farmers market, walking and biking trails, a carousel, movie nights and much more. But art lovers will most enjoy the Palm Court Arts Complex, containing the Great Park Gallery, Great Park Studio and Hanger 244 outdoor performance plaza. Designed in re-purposed military structures, there is room for a variety of art-related ventures.
The Great Park Gallery offers exhibitions throughout the year, including the upcoming “Journey Through the Maze: 45 Years of PAC-MAN” (May 18-Sept. 18), exploring the nostalgic game through memorabilia and behind-the-scenes looks. Its counterpart, Great Park Studios, is a flexible venue used for special events as well as art workshops and other programming put on by the city. Hangar 244 often hosts cultural exhibitions as well, highlighting the history of the city, the region’s military and Orange County as a whole through displays like “From Saigon to Little Saigon: Reflections on 50 Years of Home” and “Life on the Base: MCAS El Toro.”
At the Frida Cinema: PHOTO 1: A panel with LeVar Burton. PHOTO 2: An art exhibit in the lobby of the nonprofit arthouse theater. PHOTO 3: An annual horror-themed event hosted at The Frida. Photos courtesy of The Frida Cinema
As a volunteer-run, nonprofit arthouse theater – the only one of its kind in Orange County – this Santa Ana venue puts its main focus on cult, classic, independent, international and documentary films and also hosts annual film festivals, including the Orange County Latino International Film Festival and the Viet Film Fest. “In addition to showing arthouse, international (and) informational films, and doing our best to advocate for cinema as the art form it is, we always have an art show on display in our lobby, featuring 25 to 50 pieces from local artisans – all for sale – usually tied to a film series we’re currently screening,” said Bekah Phillips, director of social media marketing and graphic design at The Frida Cinema.
The theater is also in charge of the Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk, held on the first Saturday of every month with art gallery openings, live music and dancing, crafts for children and more than 40 local vendors. Southern California creatives are also featured in The Frida Zinema, a movie-themed zine put together by the theater that incorporates writing and artwork from Orange County locals.
PHOTO 1: Visitors peruse artwork from Festival of Arts’ permanent collection at satellite gallery foaSouth. PHOTO 2: An exhibit on display at Festival of Arts’ foaSouth. Photos courtesy of Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach
Most art enthusiasts in the area are familiar with Festival of Arts and its beloved living pictures stage show, Pageant of the Masters, which takes place in Laguna Canyon each summer. But one of the festival’s best-kept secrets is its gallery, foaSouth, located inside of Active Culture café in Laguna Beach.
“It’s not just a gallery – it’s a bridge between the festival’s rich history and its evolving future,” said FOA board member and photographer Tom Lamb. “The fact that we can offer exhibitions year-round in a building with historic designation makes it a one-of-a-kind venue.”
Though intimate, the gallery, which pulls from the festival’s permanent collection to showcase works by FOA artists, offers a curated look at pieces by longtime exhibitors and up-and-comers. As it always does leading up to the summertime, foaSouth is currently displaying “Fresh Faces,” offering a look at paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics and jewelry from first-time exhibitors that will debut at the 2025 festival.
“Visitors can experience a diverse range of creativity up close. Plus, because the exhibitions rotate throughout the year, there’s always something new to discover,” Lamb added. (foapom.com)
Musicians, surrounded by candlelight, often cover popular artists during Candlelight Concerts. Photos courtesy of Fever
Best known for bringing exciting, visually aesthetic events to cities around the world, Fever’s Candlelight Concerts have come to Orange County. These musical performances, featuring thousands of flameless candles that create mood lighting and a stunning backdrop for the performers, hop around to different venues held locally in Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Yorba Linda and more. Fever plays orchestral covers of songs by popular artists like Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Adele, Hans Zimmer and The Beatles; specialized performances of music by composers like Vivaldi; or a blend of songs from specific genres, like hip-hop or soul. So you’re sure to find an upcoming show that suits your interests.
_gif.gif)
%20(1)_gif.gif)