Art in Baja California isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s about identity, healing, and telling stories that matter. This summer, Ensenada and Mexicali are both showing how powerful a splash of color can be.
Ensenada’s Streets, Captured on Canvas
Alejandro Arellano Vega wants you to slow down and look at Ensenada a little differently.
His new exhibit, “The Spaces Speak to Me of the Past,” now open at CEART Ensenada, features paintings of the city’s architecture. Think old facades, weathered corners, and historic spots you’ve walked by but never really noticed.
Arellano studied architecture at UABC and visual arts at CRIA. He’s also a 2024 PECDA Young Creators grant recipient. His style? Careful observation, long walks, historical research, and a deep love for Ensenada’s past. His work turns everyday buildings into emotional landmarks.
If you’re into urban landscapes, or just want to see Ensenada through new eyes, this show is worth the visit.
Mexicali’s Mural of Strength
Over in Mexicali, art is going big—and bold.
At the Centro de Justicia para las Mujeres (CEJUM), a massive community mural is in progress. It’s not just about paint. It’s about healing. Organized through the Cultura Comunitaria program, the mural brings together local artists, students, parents, and neighbors.
Everyone’s invited to add a brushstroke. The goal? To create a message of safety and support for women and girls who arrive at CEJUM, many during very hard moments in their lives.
Magdalena Bautista, CEJUM’s director, called it “a collective hug.” The mural aims to send a strong, visual signal: this is a safe space, and you are not alone.
A Shared Mission Through Art
What ties these two projects together?
Both remind us that art is more than decoration. It’s a tool for reflection. In Ensenada, it honors the past. In Mexicali, it supports healing and change.
We already covered the CEJUM mural in more detail earlier—check it out here.
For now, it’s safe to say Baja’s artistic pulse is strong—and very much worth your attention.
So take a stroll through CEART. Or lend a hand at the CEJUM mural. Either way, you’ll witness something beautiful: people using creativity to build a better, more human Baja.
