Modern painter and general creative powerhouse, Pablo Picasso, said it best. “Art washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life.” At Velvet, we’re constantly excited by art in all it’s forms—from the cool street murals that adorn the buildings near our Culver City headquarters, to the amazing galleries and museums that dot the LA landscape. Since it’s where you’ll find us on most weekends, here’s a list of our favorite galleries that are a little off the beaten path. Get ready to get inspired.

Downtown L.A.

CB1 Gallery
1923 S. Santa Fe Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 806-7889
www.cb1gallery.com

Founded by Clyde Beswick and Jason Chang in 2010, CB1 Gallery opened a new 4,500-square-foot exhibition space just south of the downtown Arts District. The acclaimed gallery and its exhibitions have been featured in The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Art in America and LA Weekly and often focuses on up-and-coming local talent.

West Hollywood

ACE Gallery Los Angeles
5514 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
https://acegallery.art/

Every one in LA has at some point gone to LACMA for their curated collections (as well as excellent restaurants), and this contemporary art space is just down the street and definitely worth a visit. Founded in 1961, The ACE Gallery is one of the longest-running art galleries in all of L.A. Fun fact: They’ve featured works by Andy Warhol and Dennis Hopper.

The Eastside and East L.A.

356 Mission Gallery
356 S. Mission Rd.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 609-3162
www.356mission.com

The 356 Mission Gallery is a must-see for anyone interested in modern art whether it’s a painting, performance art, screening or concert. This sprawling warehouse is situated across the river from the downtown Arts District in Boyle Heights and boasts 12,000 square feet of space for contemporary artists to flaunt their finest work. Always something fun and thought provoking.

La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
http://laluzdejesus.com/

Known as “the birthplace of pop surrealism,” La Luz de Jesus Gallery is the Eastside’s self-proclaimed “lowbrow” art gallery (but don’t let that fool you, it’s fall fab and fun). This venue is the prime spot to view innovative counterculture as it emerges and it’s also attached to a gift shop called Wacko / Soap Plant, which has a curated collection of hard-to-find books, gifts and collectibles.

The Valley

MRG Fine Art
13453 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
http://www.mrgfineart.com/

Founded in 2014 and tucked away in the Valley (not where you’d expect to go for contemporary artwork), MRG Fine Art gallery shines a light on emerging talents across a broad range of visual mediums. Stop by to stroll through this bright and airy spot its collection of pieces (and perhaps spot the work of the next Picasso). They are by appointment only so call ahead, it’s worth it.

Culver City

Thinkspace Gallery
6009 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, California
http://thinkspacegallery.com/

Fun fact: We’ve been known to peek in here on our lunch break. This intimate Culver City art gallery was founded in 2005, and it’s a popular venue for contemporary and up-and-coming pop and street artists. This spot is also a great one to hit up if you are looking to invest in some artwork but don’t have a ton to spend, they always have a curated mix of varying price points.

Santa Monica

Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
http://bergamotstation.com/

Next stop… Bergamot Station, i.e., the largest art gallery complex and cultural center on the West Coast. The gallery gets its name from its historical roots as a Red Line trolley stop between L.A. and the Santa Monica Pier. Nowadays, it draws in over 600,000 visitors annually and always has a great, varying mix of creative works covering every medium from performance art to classic photography. Truly something for everyone.

Beverly Hills

TASCHEN Gallery
8070 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, California
http://www.taschen.com/gallery

More famously known as an art book publisher, TASCHEN runs a gallery on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood where it regularly hosts a variety of exhibits for your viewing pleasure. You can’t miss this spot because the exterior is always adorned in some bold type and imagery but, trust us, it’s not as cool as what’s inside.