Explore Arts District Liberty Station’s New Season of Art and Artists

Arts District Liberty Station just dropped a whole new lineup of artists, exhibits, and public art, and this is one of the best times to make a trip out to the 100-acre creative hub.

Between new residencies, a fresh gallery show, and public art popping up across campus, there’s a lot to see in one visit. It’s proof that this creative hub isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

New Faces Fill the Studios

The Emerging Artist Residency Program is welcoming a fresh group of talent, and it’s an exciting mix. Four new visual artists are joining:

Tina Mardan – Iranian visual artist working across photography, painting, and drawing, starting a six-month residency in Barracks 14
Marisa Olson – fiber artist whose quilts and tapestries explore love, obsession, and intimacy, also starting a six-month residency in Barracks 14
Sheeva Davari – interdisciplinary artist drawing on Persian carpet motifs across drawing, sculpture, and oil painting
Connie Leung – painter creating mythic, surrealist figurative work exploring heritage and identity

On the dance side, four movement artists are settling in for an extended residency:

Diane Campaña – explores identity, mobility, and memory through contemporary dance and videodance
Aisha Reddick – grounded in contemporary dance and improvisation
Nick McGhee – blends modern dance, ballet, and somatic exploration
Odessa Uno – uses movement and collaborative research to build critical thinking and connection

Ballet dancers rehearsing at Arts District Liberty Station

Every one of them gets free studio space, mentorship, and a public platform. You can go watch them work during open studio hours, catch community workshops, or see their culmination showcases on-site.

“We’re so excited to welcome this new cohort of talent into our Art in Public Places programming and look forward to continuing to activate our campus through artistic and cultural moments,” said Lisa Johnson, President & CEO of Arts District Liberty Station.

Gallery 201’s Next Big Show

Right on the heels of that announcement, Gallery 201 is opening Material is Process, featuring new work from past Emerging Artist Residency alumni Audrey Gingras and Ana Saad, curated by Francisco Eme alongside The Front Arte y Cultura.

The show leans into the idea that studio practice isn’t always a straight line to a finished piece; it’s messy, improvisational, and shaped by memory and accident along the way.

There’s an opening reception to celebrate the launch in person, so keep an eye out if you want to be there for it.

Where Every Corner Becomes a Gallery

The Installations at the Station program is also getting a serious upgrade, with two new pieces bringing fresh energy to the campus:

Estación Libertad – a multi-wall mural by Enrique “Chikle” Lugo honoring the shared spirit of San Diego and Tijuana through American Traditional tattoo iconography
Memory of Soil – an immersive terracotta and sand pavilion by Laura Esela Huerta, with seating built in to reflect on the shared landscape between California and Baja California

Between the mural’s unveiling celebration and a sculpture built for sitting and reflecting, these installations turn a simple walk across campus into something worth slowing down for.