“OJO” Julio César Morales
2025-08-07 - 2025-11-29 | Manetti Shrem Museum (Shrem), 254 Old Davis Rd.
Julio César Morales — artist, curator and a former museum director — grew up along the U.S.–Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana. After nearly a decade in Arizona creating work about the border, “OJO” marks his California homecoming and return to full-time studio practice through a mid-career survey bridging past and future to reflect on the present. This theme of history and what lies ahead is central to both the exhibition and Morales’ neon sign welcoming visitors to the Manetti Shrem Museum.
Curated by Rachel Teagle, founding director
On view August 7–November 29, 2025

Click here to view the museum’s open hours.

Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice
2025-08-07 - 2025-11-29 | Manetti Shrem Museum (Shrem), 254 Old Davis Rd.
The lungs of our planet — oceans, forests and the atmosphere — are under threat, invaded by carbon emissions, plastics and man-made pollutants. The act of breathing was rendered even more perilous by the COVID-19 pandemic and police brutality. Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice considers the connections between social and environmental injustice through the lens of contemporary art. This groundbreaking exhibition brings together works focused on climate change by artists, scientists and activists whose practices encompass photography, multimedia, large-scale sculptures, painting and more.
Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice is organized by the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, and guest curated by Glenn Kaino and Mika Yoshitake with Jennifer Buonocore-Nedrelow, Pacific Standard Time Fellow.
On view August 7–November 29, 2025
Click here to view the museum’s open hours.

Rick Bartow Exhibit
2025-09-17 - 2026-01-18 | Gorman Museum of Native American Art, UC Davis, 181 Old Davis Road, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Rick Bartow | September 17, 2025 – January 18, 2026
The solo-exhibition features artworks by award-winning artist Rick Bartow, from 1979 to 2015. A Vietnam Veteran, life-long musician and song- writer, widower, and enrolled member of the Mad River Band of Wiyot Indians, Bartow is considered one of the most important leaders in contemporary Native American art.
Many of the artworks on exhibit were generously gifted to the Gorman Museum of Native American Art by the Richard E. Bartow Estate and Froelick Gallery, with additional pieces on loan from private collections.

Call for artists! Worn exhibit at the Pence
2025-10-01 - 2025-12-01 | Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Call for artists! Worn exhibit at the Pence
The Pence Gallery invites artists to submit artwork that captures the connection between clothing and one’s personal identity and/or culture. Artists can explore this open-ended theme through various media and subject matter. Selected work will become part of a new onsite group exhibit, titled Worn, in the Learning Center Gallery at the Pence Gallery from January 9 – February 8, 2026. There is no fee to apply, and submissions are due by 5 PM on December 1, 2025.
Artwork can be 2D or 3D and should be limited to 30” maximum in any direction when framed and weigh no more than 25 pounds. This call is limited to California artists ages 18 and up. Artists must submit digital images of up to 4 artworks and a short artist statement at bit.ly/penceartistcall.
December 1: Submissions are due online by 5 PM at bit.ly/penceartistcall
December 8: Notification to exhibiting artists of acceptance
January 3-5: Deadline for dropping off all work in person (no shipping),
11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
January 9 – February 8: Exhibit dates, 11:30 AM – 5 PM (closed Mondays)
January 9: Opening reception, 6-9 PM
Questions? Email Katharine Schultz at pencegallery@gmail.com.

Beauty, Seen and Felt: Paintings by Raquel Cox
2025-10-03 11:30 - 2025-11-30 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Beauty, Seen and Felt: Paintings by Raquel Cox
Exhibit: October 3 – November 30, 2025
Reception: Friday, October 10, 6-9 PM

Raquel Cox is an oil painter whose recent work celebrates the beauty of nature and the way it lifts the human spirit. Painting mainly from life, Raquel portrays a wide variety of subjects but is particularly fascinated with observing the structure, delicacy, vibrancy, and impermanence of flowers. She views her work as a delicate balance between portraying nature truthfully and trying to capture the beauty and poetry that she finds in each subject.

This exhibit is sponsored by Jim & Sue Smith and Tereza Joy Kramer.

Image: Raquel Cox, “Hydrangeas and Rose”

Robert Ortbal: Encounters
2025-10-10 11:30 - 2025-11-30 17:00 | Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Robert Ortbal: Encounters
Exhibit: October 10 – November 30, 2025
Reception: Friday, October 10, 6-9 PM (free)
Robert Ortbal combines a vast array of both common and odd materials, applying them in endless variations to create small-scale, uniquely masked figures, traveling-case environments that house them, and wearable sculptures that are, at times, worn outside the gallery environment in performative public works. For Encounters, a 20-foot towering sculpture made from electrical conduit soars up into the clerestory and snakes along the gallery floor, displaying an assortment of his wearable works. The exhibit is complemented by the publication of an illustrated catalog of his recent work.
Artist Talk: Saturday, October 18, 3-4:30 PM
(Members & students free, Non-Members $10)
Join us for an Artist Talk with Robert Ortbal in conjunction with his current solo exhibition. He will lead a dialogue about the work on display, sharing images and videos highlighting the evolution and development of his previous work.
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Catalog Sponsor: Nancy Roe
Exhibit Sponsors: Kimberly Ohlson & Allen Barnes
Installation Sponsors: MAK Design + Build
Image: Robert Ortbal, “Hello Kitty”

Avery Palmer: New Paintings
2025-10-29 - 2025-11-29 | John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
The John Natsoulas Gallery is proud to present a solo exhibition of new paintings by acclaimed Northern Californian artist Avery Palmer. Known for his imaginative narratives and surrealist sensibilities, Palmer creates intricate worlds painted in the highly technical style of the Old Masters. His haunting compositions brim with oddities—hybrid creatures, enigmatic objects, and spectral human figures—that invite viewers to step into the rich terrain of the subconscious. With this new body of work, Palmer continues his exploration of human consciousness and the complexities of individual experience in a shifting world.
In this new exhibition, Avery Palmer unveils his newest paintings – all featuring his unmistakable style. Fantastical and eerie, his figures occupy barren, otherworldly landscapes infused with atmospheric depth. Employing sfumato and chiaroscuro – techniques favored by Renaissance masters – Palmer heightens the mystery of his dreamlike scenes, juxtaposing flowing light with shadowed expanses. Distant mountains occupy the background, while the strange protagonists and their narratives remain centered in the foreground. In recent years, Palmer has embraced a more vibrant palette, giving his figures an ethereal, spectral quality.
Palmer frequently stages encounters between nude human figures and amalgamated creatures born from his imagination. These surreal hybrids, often featuring human appendages or eyes, echo the grotesque inventions of Hieronymus Bosch, while remaining distinctly Palmer’s own. His interest in 19th-century material history surfaces in the toy-like wheels, wooden structures, and antiquated objects that punctuate his compositions, imbuing them with a sense of nostalgia. Each work is layered with allegory, encouraging viewers to engage in open-ended interpretation and personal reflection.
Originally from Northern California county, Palmer received his early artistic training at Humboldt State. While painting and drawing always interested him, he initially studied ceramics during his earliest years in school. Later, after completing graduate studies at San Jose State, he finally turned his attention exclusively toward oil painting. The influences of artists such as Robert Crumb, Salvador Dalí, and other Surrealists are evident in both his subject matter and technique. This exhibit highlights the unique world Palmer creates and his distinct inner vision.
Please join us to celebrate this new exhibition at the opening reception on November 1 from 7-9pm. It will feature live music and free refreshments.

New Paintings by Boyd Gavin
2025-10-29 - 2025-11-29 | John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
The John Natsoulas Gallery is pleased to present a new solo exhibition of paintings by Sacramento-based artist Boyd Gavin. Known for his evocative depictions of suburban life and richly observed still lifes, Gavin captures the fleeting beauty of everyday moments with both intimacy and depth. His latest body of work turns a keen eye toward shared history, inviting viewers to contemplate the past, present, and future.
Through effortless brushstrokes and masterful use of tone, Gavin brings to life the textures of mid-century suburbia and the distinctive atmosphere of Northern California. His painterly style, rooted in the traditions of artists such as Paul Cézanne, allows him to balance abstraction and observation with remarkable clarity. Whether depicting the shimmering blue of a backyard pool, the soft geometry of rooftops, or the golden haze of Sacramento’s summer light, Gavin creates works that instantly transport viewers into a poetic suburban world.
The artist’s reflections on his subject matter speak to the emotional resonance that drives his practice:
“I’m drawn to mid-century suburban subject matter as a pretext for telling stories. What I find in these backyards of manicured lawns and azure pools is a beautiful kind of melancholy. The families that settled these wide open spaces are long departed. The chairs lie empty. The rituals are lost to us. What remains is the poetry of absence.”
A lifelong resident of Sacramento, Boyd Gavin received his BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his MA from California State University, Sacramento. His work has been widely exhibited, including at the Crocker Art Museum, Caldwell Snyder Gallery in San Francisco, and the John Natsoulas Gallery. This exhibition celebrates Gavin’s ongoing commitment to portraying the beauty and poignancy of the suburban landscape.
Please join us to celebrate this new exhibition at the opening reception on November 1 from 7-9pm. It will feature live music and free refreshments.

Chaos
2025-10-31 - 2025-11-24 | The Artery, 207 G Street, Davis, ca
The Artery is pleased to present Chaos, an exhibition featuring the luminous glass, paintings and jewelry of Linnea Wong, Adriel Wong and Lori Wynn.
Artist Reception on November 14, 6-9pm.

Pence Gallery Holiday Market
2025-11-24 11:30 - 17:00 | Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Pence Gallery Holiday Market
November 14 – December 24, 2025
Reception: November 14, 6-9 PM (free)
The Pence’s Holiday Market is a treasure trove of handcrafted items made by regional artists and artisans, perfect for holiday gift giving. Visitors can enjoy shopping for cozy knit scarves, unique jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and more. Over 50 participating artists will share their work, and our gallery will be overflowing with fun items that will make great gifts, which can be wrapped in a gift bag upon request. Pence Members receive 10% off Holiday Market purchases!
Members Only Shopping Hour
Friday, November 14, 10:30-11:30 AM (free)
Pence Members are invited to enjoy a private opening of the amazing Holiday Market. Members can enjoy delicious snacks and coffee while getting first dibs on shopping for holiday treasures. Not a Member? Sign up online at pencegallery.org or in person at the gallery.
The Holiday Market is open daily from 11:30 AM – 5 PM (including Mondays), with the following exceptions:
Nov. 26: Closes at 3 PM
Nov. 27: Closed for Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 24: Closes at 3 PM (final day)

Align & Flow Yoga
2025-11-24 17:30 - 19:00 | Davis Shambhala Meditation Center, 133 D Street, Suite H, upstairs, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
All classes begin with a meditation and invite mindful movement through attention to breath and physical alignment. In a vinyasa class, we link postures together and move with the breath on the inhale, or the exhale. A typical class involves strength and stability work balanced by flexibility and relaxation. Each class finishes with a reclining rest.

davisyogacollective.com

Davis Makerspace & Clothing Repair Cafe
2025-11-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Library, 315 East 14th Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Davis Makerspace is a community workspace for makers and builders, designers and inventors. A small assortment of tools will be available for use and staff or volunteers will be on hand to provide some assistance. Supervised children are welcome. Participants must provide a signed liability waiver (available on site). Mondays & Tuesdays, 6p—8p; Thursdays, 9:30a—11:30a; Fridays, 3p—5p.
