Distinction Gallery

This is a large 2-story eccentric art gallery with a bar! Every month is a new theme, and you can also dress up with the theme! I sold one of my pieces here and still have some of my art there🤗 They also have two escape rooms. This is a must-see gallery!

Some solid pieces of art here. Come for the art, stay for the local bar and or escape rooms

Love this gallery. Awesome collection of local artists, and there a cozy little bar adjacent to it.

My favorite gallery in Southern California hands down, they have cultivated such an amazing community ❤️ endless creativity and talent in those walls 👏

Best Art Studio in San Diego! Feels like family and the owner Melissa is amazing! Come by Friday night! They won’t disappoint. 💜

Lots to look at! Edgy and contemporary. Very friendly place. No sales pressure.

Really cool gallery with a big variety of local art. I've purchased 2 pieces here in the last year. Location also hosts multiple artist's studios, so you get to meet and interact with the artists. There is also an escape room and wine bar in the building.

Lots of talented artists have work in this gallery, not the standard "flowers and portraits" kind of gallery.

Accessibility: the door to enter is a single pull door. Once inside, there is a large flat ground level where you can go to the bar or look at tons of art. There is a second floor that you can only access by stairs, but even if you cannot get upstairs, there is plenty of beautiful art to see on the bottom floor. Please be careful if going up and down the stairs because the handrails are a bit wobbly and unstable. Experience: this gallery is WAY bigger than it looks from the outside. Upon entering, you can turn left and go enjoy their bar, or you can turn right and enter a world of art. A lot of the art here is a darker theme, but some of it isn't. The art is mostly paintings but there are some small sculptures and photo art. I also learned they have an escape room you can play, but I haven't experienced this one yet!

Never knew about this place until today. I walked in a little after it opened and was in awe with the unique artwork I was seeing. This is not your typical classical, safe paintings that you see else. No these paintings have an edge, a uniqueness about them which I love. I thought I needed to go to LA for this type of stuff, but seeing it here in Escondido was refreshing. There's an upstairs too which has the artist's personal room they paint in which I thought was cool, some were open and other's were closed. There were plenty of paintings show casing their work. If interested in any of the pieces you just tell the guy working at the front, and mention the artist's name, and title of the picture. As I walked back downstairs I told the guy I was there to pick up 2 Victor Roman art pieces (Miss Green & Miss Mirren), and a August Williams (Paris). My husband contacted him and told him I'd be there. The guy grabbed my pictures, I was very pleased with the quality of the pictures. You can pay by pay pal, cc, or cash. I paid with CC and was e-mailed a receipt promptly. I can't wait to go back and bring others along.

Like many DINKs, Chun P. and I enjoy topiaries, eating organic free-range happy chickens, eating two novelty ice creams each per Disney trip, art....and Portlandia. And it just so happened that two of our passions intersected when Distinction hosted 'Put A Bird on It,' an exhibit designed around the Portlandia sketch of the same name. We were warmly greeted by the Curator upon arrival and leisurely enjoyed the gallery. Downstairs were all manner of paintings featuring birds, some very serious and others whimsical and satirical. I was very tempted to purchase two paintings, but with a few home repairs on the horizon decided to forgo it until next time. Upstairs were several artist's studios with all manner of mixed media. In the back downstairs was an emerging artists section for art submitted by local teenagers. It's great Distinction is supportive of cultivating young local talent! We were both very impressed with the quality and breadth of works and will definitely be back.

So many wonderful artists. Very unique, eclectic mix. The owner, Melissa is lovely. Definitely check your their inventory and exhibitions!

I dragged some out of towners to Distinction while showing them my Escondido. I had actually never been there, but I loved the theme of "Put A Bird On It" for their exhibit this month and figured this was as good a time as any to check it out. I would like to come to one of the evening opening events some time, but even just strolling through in an afternoon is fun if you like unique art! There are many "artist studios" along the upstairs, although I was disappointed with many of them having closed doors, but the ones you could walk inside had very interesting artwork. Seriously, most of it was really unique. You can take on e of these pieces home with you if you want and the prices range from around $50 up... and up and up... There was also some jewelry on display that was pretty... not sure on the prices of that. The actual Put A Bird On It exhibit was good, but small. Some of the offerings were straightforward and some were just nutty. It was just fun checking everything out. It's actually a pretty good sized space, with both a down and upstairs and we spent about 45 minutes in there exploring. If you like checking out art galleries, you should Put this on your list when your in Esco.

Here are a few reasons why you should visit Distinction Gallery (and why I love it). They are always showing the most current relevant artists in the Pop Surrealist and New Contemporary art movement. Not only do they show high profile artists, but they also highlight emerging artists that have proven to grow and expand their notable art careers around the globe. The gallery supports art education to local at-risk youth, and provides a safe space to create art. The gallery houses over a dozen art studios in the building and invites everyone to roam around, and you might get a glimpse of the artists at work. The building's interior walls are covered floor to ceiling with art. It is rare to see a naked wall! And don't forget to say hello to the owner, Melissa (who built the gallery from the ground up into what it is today) and the rest of the amazing staff. If you love art, especially art that starts a conversation, I would highly suggest spending some time there. You will not regret it!

Some of the best shows in San Diego County in the last five years have been at Distinction--a small gallery and collection of artist studios in Escondido. Melissa, the owner, has impeccable taste and a small obsession with urban--or pop, if that's what you want to call it--surrealism (I share that obsession). Check out the website and make the drive up to one of the show openings. You won't be disappointed.

One of the hidden treasures of Escondido! They have an art show reception every second Saturday of the month where you can talk to a lot of the artists, and enjoy free wine and stone beer while you admire the unique and amazing art work.

This Gallery is constantly on the cutting edge of art, especially if you are looking for an Art Gallery of such merit in North County, San Diego. It is located on Grand Ave, the main drag of Escondido, and is near a plethora of coffee shops, boutiques, salons, and pubs, as well as other Museum and Gallery Spaces. The Gallery features art focusing on Urban Surrealism and Figurative Life Paintings, with vivid colors as a constant theme for all the works housed there. The owners Sam and Melissa are super easy to deal with, and have had a lot of experience in the art world, domestically and internationally. The Gallery is 2 stories and houses 14 studio rooms available for rent by artists, with some rooms being broken up into individual wall space for rent. Every month and a half or so there is either an opening of an exhibit, or an open house, where all the artists studios are opened up for public view. There is usually live music and a good crowd with which to mingle and view the art work.

Decided to check this place out when I caught wind of Gabe Leonard coming here...his work is mind altering! So naturally, had to check it out. And low and behold, I discovered Escondido had and art scene! This is a cool place for sure. Not only did they have a large room full of Gabe's work, but they even had different rooms and walls of other artists that were all VERY talented, individualistic and SUPER cool! 20+ artists, some of which were there to represent. They have an upstairs as well. Also, was a great live band playing at the front of the gallery. some of the pieces took my breath away, and I'm still in shock over the quality of the art...how did I not discover this place sooner??? What the heckito?! Well, Escondido does this art walk thing every 2nd Saturday of every month where all the galleries open up, you can meet the artists, and there is live music. So folks, artists and admirers alike, get with it and check out the Escondido art scene.

I LOVE Distinction. I've taken a few friends here on opening nights which are always held on Saturdays each month. They will change the Artist in the front room but other than that there are a number of studio artists who "reside" there...i'm not sure of the number of artists but i think it's over 20 resident artists there who open their studios and you are allowed to cruise around down and upstairs and check em all out. The owner/curator does have fabulous taste because I've never anywhere seen such a large amount of artwork, but all be of such quality! The openings they hold are kid friendly as well. There is one room/studio upstairs caled "Just hana" I think? They have a craft table for your kids to make their own cards with stamps etc. fun for all. Sometimes they will have musicians/band performing at their openings also. I've attended 3 openings there and I don't even live near Esco. The past event they had was an auction with 57 different artists and it was a chairty benefit...i was unable to make it... Get on their mailing list or check out the site: distinctionart.com

This artist studio space and gallery is great. Who knew Escondido even had anything out here like this. We drove out here for the opening of the "It All Come Rushing In" exhibit with new work from Matt Linares and Aaron Jasinsk. We perused the rest of the gallery and artist studios which they open up so you can check out there pieces. There were all so many various kinds of work here and worth getting on the mailer for future shows. The current show is still up and goes down sometime before June 8th because that is when we get our paintings shipped out to us!! Check out Matt Linares work. If you are a fan of Pop Surrealism then you may be into his stuff. http://www.facebook.com/events/347070062010452/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Linares-Art/333669059980954

I came here on my lunch break after finding out about the Wonderland exhibit. I never would have guessed what I was about to walk into. I usually don't feel that I can find things that are a bit abstract or alternative in San Diego but this place really proved me wrong. The art here is interesting, creative and unexpected. The music and general atmosphere is a really amazing. I wish I hadn't come on my lunch break because this place really has a voice that calls you to stay and linger. I will be watching this place as new exhibits come up. I will for sure be back.

Distinction art gallery has a personality all its own. It breathes with an affinity for the arts and the fostering of love for the arts that you seriously couldn't appreciate when standing outside! Speaking of which, it's a true hidden gem perfectly situated out in the open! Don't let the atypical storefront deter you, it's splendid (and spacious) inside! Two levels of awesome, this gallery is not only occupied by walls and walls of exceptionally attractive art pieces but also the studio spaces in which artists own work! What a great relationship to build between artists, their respective works of art, and the community as a whole! Loved the overall feel of Distinction and its contributions to ArtHatch, a medium by which the at-risk youth are encouraged to be aware of and appreciate culture and diversity. The environment depicted in this gallery is one of a modern home, one fortunate enough to have been decorated with an Alice and Wonderlandesque theme on the night of my visit! Would love to make the trip back to view another unique exhibit here! Maybe purchase a piece or two when I've got enough money saved up to do so!

Amazing. Many pieces that are on their wall you have already seen in magazines nationwide or online. And then you walk in and there is the original! Multiple famous artists all in one location. I went in with a 28 year old, a 40 year old and a 65 year old...we each left with a piece. There is something unique for everyone...this is definitely more of an R rated gallery, but such amazing and unique pieces...way more fun then another "story book cottage print with glowing lights."

Went to the Opening Reception of The Nightmare in Wonderland Project. Such amazing talent. I took a 9 and 17 yr old and they loved the experience and enjoyed meeting some of the local artists. This night they also had live music.

Good sized gallery in the ghost town of Escondido. Some pretty good works but also some not so good. It has plenty to look at but its missing a theme , its a little all over the place.

Love it here...great place to pick up local art and art from all over the world...picked up 2 Natalie Shau pieces in 2006!

Terrific gallery! I love it there. This gallery brings in international artists that are edgy and inventive. Really worth a look. And there are many local artist studios in the building that are open during the gallery's monthly opening receptions for the artists. Surprising find in Escondido.

The best artist studio/gallery combo I've ever seen. The works of Pamela Wilson are fantastic. Big. Pricey. But this lady can really paint. Worth every penny. All the art is of high quality. Not an easy task with so many artists availing themselves of the studios.