Borrego Art Institute

I have been to the institute for various art shows. The space is very open with the natural light from the large windows. The shop is really nice too. There is a nice gift shop with a large variety of options to purchase. There is a good amount of space inside the gallery so you don't feel too crowded. The front of the gallery has some beautiful landscaping that is mixed with different types of art.

This is always a must-stop on my visit to Borrego Springs. Located right on Christmas Circle. The exhibits are outstanding. They showcase artists while one has the opportunity to see our beautiful desert landscape through their eyes. Be sure to pursue the gift shop. Again, everything reflects the talents of our artists.

Borrego Springs sure has changed in the last 10 years and this was a pleasant supprise. Excellent Pizza a bit pricey but was worth it.

Nice place! Wonderful artwork and pottery, definitely a recommended place for artists and alike. Everyone was super friendly and supportive, can't wait to come back again!

Was short on time so did a quick walk through. Would like to spend more time there to experience the local art. Dog friendly and the fountain out front was busy with birds drinking and bathing.

Didn't have any displays as getting ready for a Plein Air session this weekend. Was some nice art for sale.

I love this art gallery. Well, worth a fun little road trip. Incredibly talented artista with shows that change throughout the year. They also have a wonderful, unique gift shop. Plus it's in a great historic mid century building!

to see an art institute in the middle of the desert is quite an inspiration. Local philanthropists pulled together about 10 years ago and made this happen for the local community. Hours may be seasonal for both the Art Institute as well as the attached restaurant, Kesling's Kitchen, but these, along with the other great shops and restaurants in Borrego are worth the visit. Most impressive, just like the unique sculptures scattered all over the desert in Borrego Springs, no tax dollars, government agencies, or outside developers have been involved in these local improvements.

This is a lovely art institute! It's in the heart of the town, close to restaurants, hotels and campgrounds. So it's great to visit when going out for the day. The staff are helpful and friendly. They welcome you with a friendly smile and greet. There are some gift items available made by local artists. I did not leave empty handed. I purchased a calendar with beautiful nature shots and some greeting cards with nature photos. The museum is just the right size for a short walkthrough. A lot of great artists. Some pieces are very unique, just like people. I would love to return if ever back in town.

If you are ever in Borrego, you must visit this incredible place where local artists are displayed and there is a great selection of pottery and hand painted notecards and jewelry for sale as well as original paintings. There are books by local residents and a member of the nonprofit group is minding the space so you can ask questions about the artists while you're there. It's right across the street from the Circle and there's plenty of parking and restaurants in the same area. A great place to spend a few hours after your morning hike!! I recommend eating at Jilbertos for lunch and then Calico's or the Fushe factory for dessert !

A nice space filled with local art. - It's free - Very casual gallery - Everything is for sale - Bags of vegetables for sale (seasonal??) - Connected to a pizza restaurant - Better bathrooms than Christmas circle park Closes at 4pm...

Well curated rotating exhibits featuring local artists. If you are looking for something special to take home- their gift shop features locally crafted gifts, stationary and wood crafts. Worth a stop!

Such an important cornerstone of the Borrego Springs history and community, the building was established in 1949 and housed essential services such as grocery market and post office. It evolved and was recently renovated in 2013 to now house an art gallery, office space and restaurant. I was lucky enough to visit during their March Plein Air Invitational and see beautiful paintings of the surrounding scenery. Great location at Christmas circle for abundant free parking, it's wonderfully air conditioned so you can soak in some local culture while getting some relief from the desert sun. The gift shop is neatly organized with unique handmade glass jewelery made by local artists that's worth a gander. The restrooms here are for restaurant patrons only but in the Christmas Circle park across the street there are public restrooms available for use.

As an artist and someone who has worked in the film and entertainment industry, I am saddened by how horribly run this location is. When we arrived we were immediately told by an older, unprofessional woman that she was busy training someone and proceeded to ignore us the entire time, even when we showed interest in purchasing some works. I feel she discriminated against us because we are young minorities, but it is a hard truth I have to deal with. I was saddened to see that the employees had no love or appreciation towards their artists, and it seemed more like a failing art store as opposed a museum. Many times we tried to get the attention of the employees to ask about purchasing the art, but they were far too concerned with their computer. At the end I decided to purchase a pair of earrings, and was offended when the woman named Kay became excited over being able to train her new co-worker on how to use the register. No customer service skills whatsoever. Unfortunately the earrings were of poor quality and turned green almost immediately, so I tossed them. I suggest you buy from the artists directly instead of having your money be wasted at this location.

I love that you can: - Be part of of the one of the top solutions to fight climate chaos (https://drawdown.org/solutions/table-of-solutions), which is to compost. So bring your vegan food scraps to compost here anytime at the back of the garden in the pile on the far right when you face the compost sign :) Don't put paper foodware there because they most likely have toxic PFAS (https://sierraclub.org/sierra/toxic-pfas-everywhere-chemicals-are-organic-pasta-sauce-and-ketchup-drugs-pesticides-and) or is lined with plastic (https://soundcloud.com/socal350/microplastics-are-everywhere-whats-the-risk). PFAS and plastic in compost can grow back into edible parts of produce (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24206563, https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/53195056). - Buy a $5/bag of home-grown produce on Friday mornings. They even grow moringa!

The Borrego Art Institute opened earlier this year and it replaced the food market that sat here for years on the edge of Christmas Circle. This mid-century building looks better than its bones would have otherwise suggested and the minimalist landscaping and fountain complement it very well. The art for sale on my visit was a welcome surprise, too. The paintings and sculpture are certainly not the kitsch often found in small-town galleries. If you've seen Ricardo Breceda's collection of hulking, rusting metal sculptures that dot the outskirts of Borrego Springs -- and how could you not? -- you're in luck: a few much smaller pieces are available here for purchase. This town is one of my favorite places in California and the Borrego Art Institute gives me a reason to like it a lot more.

Cool art gallery in Borrego Springs. Saw some sweet pottery on display/for sale. They have a gift shop area too with more affordable items (greeting cards, jewelry, etc.) Also attached to a pretty solid restaurant - Kesling's Kitchen. Check out my separate review. Parking was surprisingly easy, on a Saturday afternoon. Found a spot at the edge of the Christmas Circle (the main roundabout in town).

Beautiful new art gallery in my favorite small town. Borrego Springs is completely surrounded by the Anza Borrego State Park. This lively town has dozens of organizations with classes, trips, hikes, talks, a educational programs. The art institute has pottery classes and workshops. The monthly shows feature both local and regional art. Their March Plein Air Invitational attracts highly skilled artists who come for a week and complete a painting each day of the competition. Artists move here and work here for the dramatic vistas. Their art is often for sale at the gallery shows. Check their website for dates. There is a gift shop with handmade items at a variety of price points.

The Borrego Art Institute, which opened in 2013, is just about the best thing that ever happened to Borrego. And it gets better every year. Everything about it is FAB, and the tiny community of Borrego is very lucky to have it. Hope it lasts forever.