Nestled in the heart of Orange County’s sun-drenched coastline, Costa Mesa proudly wears the mantle of the “City of the Arts,” a title bestowed upon it in 1984 to celebrate its burgeoning creative spirit. While the city’s overall reputation often evokes images of grand performing arts centers and high-end shopping at South Coast Plaza, it’s the Westside—particularly the stretch along West 17th Street—that pulses with a raw, grassroots energy. This industrial-edged neighborhood, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and dotted with warehouses-turned-studios, has evolved into a haven for visual artists, muralists, and makers. Here, the line between work and play blurs in collaborative spaces, pop-up events, and ever-evolving street art that transforms concrete into canvas.
What makes Westside Costa Mesa so magnetic? It’s the unpretentious vibe: a mix of surf culture, DIY ethos, and ocean-inspired innovation that draws creators from across Southern California. As the area gentrifies with new developments and breweries, the art scene clings to its authentic roots, fostering a community where emerging talents rub shoulders with established names. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a curious weekend explorer, Westside offers endless discoveries—from intimate gallery openings to hands-on ceramics workshops. In this deep dive, we’ll explore the history, hotspots, street vibes, standout artists, must-attend events, and what’s next for this creative enclave.
The Roots: How Westside Became a Creative Powerhouse
Costa Mesa’s artistic legacy traces back to the mid-20th century, when post-World War II growth brought factories, aerospace hubs, and a wave of young families to the area. By the 1980s, visionary leaders recognized the potential to pivot from industrial roots toward cultural enrichment, dubbing the city the “City of the Arts” to attract tourism and investment. The crown jewel was the 1986 opening of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, a sprawling complex that put Costa Mesa on the map for Broadway-caliber theater and dance. Yet, while Eastside venues like South Coast Repertory Theater stole the spotlight, Westside simmered quietly, its warehouses serving as affordable studios for painters, sculptors, and designers.
The real explosion came in the 2010s. As action-sports giants like Vans, Volcom, and Hurley set up headquarters nearby—infusing the area with a rebellious, youth-driven aesthetic—local artists seized the momentum. West 17th Street, once a gritty corridor of auto shops and storage units, transformed into a de facto arts district. A pivotal moment arrived around 2016 when clusters of studios began coalescing around the Oceanview Complex at 1001 W. 17th St., drawing transplants from pricier Santa Ana’s Artists Village. Skeith De Wine, a former Santa Ana mainstay known for his tech-infused drawings and paintings, relocated his California Leonardo da Vinci Institute of Discovery here, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.
By 2019, the scene was starting to make waves, with monthly open studios and pop-up shows turning heads. The COVID-19 pandemic tested resilience but ultimately accelerated hybrid events—virtual tours, outdoor murals, and al fresco workshops—that kept the community connected. Today, in 2026, Westside’s evolution reflects broader Orange County trends: a blend of blue-collar grit and upscale appeal, where rent-stabilized lofts coexist with multimillion-dollar developments. The city’s Arts Commission supports this growth through grants, public programs, and initiatives like the Arts & Culture Master Plan, ensuring art remains accessible amid rising costs. It’s a testament to Westside’s ethos: creativity isn’t a luxury; it’s the lifeblood of the neighborhood.
This history isn’t just backstory—it’s the soil from which today’s vibrant ecosystem grows. From the ocean breezes whispering through alleyways to the hum of pottery wheels in converted garages, Westside embodies the idea that art thrives in the margins.
Hotspots: Galleries and Studios That Define the Scene
At the epicenter of Westside’s creative pulse is West 17th Street, a mile-long artery lined with unassuming buildings that hide world-class talent. Start at Sher’s Art Gallery (711 W. 17th St., Ste. A1), a cornerstone since the early 2000s. Owned by artist and educator Sher Swaim, this sunlit space doubles as a teaching hub and exhibition venue, offering classes in oil painting, ceramics, and drawing for all ages. Step inside on a class day, and you’ll find students glazing pots or sketching live models, their laughter mingling with the scent of fresh clay. Sher’s isn’t just a gallery—it’s a launchpad for local voices, with monthly shows featuring everything from abstract expressionism to whimsical ceramics.
A short stroll west leads to the Oceanview Complex (1001 W. 17th St.), a sprawling warehouse compound that’s become synonymous with collaborative chaos. Home to over a dozen tenants, it buzzes with diversity: Costa Mesa Ceramics Studio, led by passionate instructors, hosts wheel-throwing workshops that double as therapy sessions, promising to boost mood and decision-making through clay. Nearby, fashion designers and jewelers tinker with prints and fair-trade pieces inspired by global travels. Music lovers gravitate to recording spaces where indie tracks get mastered amid the salty air. It’s this eclectic mix—art, design, sound—that makes Oceanview feel like a living mood board.
No tour is complete without Location 1980 (near West 17th), a studio collective founded by painter Jesse Fortune. This nonprofit gallery hosts regular shows, plus weekly life-drawing sessions that attract artists each Thursday. Fortune’s own works—vibrant impressionist landscapes capturing Costa Mesa’s golden-hour glow—anchor the space, but the real draw is the roster of emerging and established creators sharing the collaborative energy.
Further along, spots like Costa Mesa Ceramics continue to thrive, welcoming visitors to events such as Wine and Ceramics Night or private lessons. For a more industrial vibe, the Westside Museum (729 Farad St.) serves as a flexible creative event space in a repurposed factory, hosting large-scale art and music events, weddings, and community gatherings. These spots aren’t isolated; they’re interconnected, with artists cross-pollinating ideas over coffee at nearby spots. In Westside, galleries aren’t dusty museums—they’re living rooms for the soul.
Street Art: Where the Walls Whisper Stories
Westside’s public art turns everyday strolls into scavenger hunts. The city’s Utility Box Beautification Project has wrapped over 60 electrical boxes in vibrant wraps by local hands since 2015, from geometric patterns to ocean motifs. At the Costa Mesa Skate Park and along key corridors, murals honor skate culture and local heritage, with layers of tags and waves telling stories of the area’s rebellious spirit.
These pieces aren’t static; they’re conversations—tagging over tagging, layer upon layer—mirroring Westside’s layered history. The public art initiative, supported by the city, keeps the streets alive and invites passersby to engage with creativity at every turn.
Spotlight on Creators: The Hearts Behind the Hue
Westside’s magic lies in its people. Jesse Fortune, the peripatetic painter behind Location 1980, embodies the explorer-artist archetype. His journeys infuse canvases with luminous color, emphasizing connection and community. “Art here is about connection,” echoing the collaborative spirit that defines the strip.
Skeith De Wine brings Renaissance flair to his da Vinci Institute, blending classical techniques with futuristic elements. At Costa Mesa Ceramics, instructors guide creators in functional wares that draw from therapeutic traditions, serving as a sanctuary for locals. Muralists and painters add joy and whimsy, with community classes teaching kids and adults alike to wield brushes boldly.
Emerging voices in mixed media, photography, and textiles add fresh layers, their works popping up in holiday sales, juried shows, and pop-ups. These creators aren’t just making art—they’re weaving Westside’s social fabric, one pigment at a time.
Events: Immersive Experiences That Ignite the Senses
Westside hums with happenings year-round. The Costa Mesa Art Crawl, a free program under the Arts & Culture Master Plan, invites exploration of creative spaces. Catch pop-up shows at studios like those on West 17th, where artists open doors for sales and hors d’oeuvres.
Hands-on seekers flock to workshops at Sher’s Art Gallery or Costa Mesa Ceramics, from paint nights to wheel-throwing sessions. The city’s ARTventure juried exhibition, with displays at community centers and awards at venues like the Orange County Museum of Art, celebrates local talent across ages.
Music-art fusions shine at events like Songs in the Canyon at Canyon Park, blending acoustic sets with family-friendly vibes. Westside Museum hosts second-Sunday markets and large-scale gatherings. These events—family-friendly and inclusive—remind us: art is best shared.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Spark
As 2026 unfolds, Westside eyes expansion: more makerspaces, city-backed murals, and programs to counter gentrification. Challenges like rising rents loom, but initiatives like the Arts Commission’s grants and the Master Plan ensure accessibility. The future? A bolder, more global Westside, where traditional crafts meet innovative expressions.
In Westside Costa Mesa, art isn’t confined to frames—it’s the air we breathe, the stories we tell. Whether tracing murals at dusk or glazing a mug by day, this corner of paradise invites you to create your chapter. Head west; the canvas awaits.
