Past Exhibitions

An exhibition that spotlights how three Hawaiian princes—David Kawānanakoa, Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, and Edward Keliʻiahonui— introduced surfing to the U.S. mainland via Santa Cruz in 1885 and rode the wave of legacy and relevance to Santa Cruz County.

Discover the unheard stories of the people who made Santa Cruz County what it is today.

A pop up exhibit that aims to reconnect the descendants of the Muwekma Ohlone to the land of their ancestors, on the lands of Djerassi.

A pop up exhibit of artist Don Porcella showcasing some of his sculptures made out of pipe cleaners.

An exhibition featuring a selection of pet themed art and historical photos from the MAH’s collection to celebrate our furry and feathery friends.

A powerful exhibition that reflects on the profound impact the HIV/AIDS epidemic had on the LGBTQ+ community. It celebrates the enduring resilience, love, and activism that has defined our collective journey.

An exhibition highlighting the pluck, panache and purpose of our local LGBTQ+ Pride gatherings that have been held through thick and thin every year since 1975.

The Coha-Gunderson Creativity Workshop, housed in The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz, presents a multi-media exhibition by UCSC graduate and undergraduate students and alumni winners of the Coha-Gunderson Prize in Speculative Futures.

An exhibition that pays tribute to the world of travel photography, community, and adventure, where architecture, design, and aesthetics converge in stunning symmetry reminiscent of the iconic filmmaker's visual style.

This pop up exhibit will raise awareness of the internationally recognized Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement.

An immersive Afrospeculative experience that focuses on the exploration and preservation of indigenous cosmic roots.

A traveling exhibition that champions an emerging generation of artists of African descent who are exploring identity, politics, and art history as they engage with the work of their predecessors across various media.

A pop up exhibit of local artist Gene Holtan's work with poems by Gary Young in collaboration with M.K Contemporary Art Gallery.

An exhibition of contemporary photographic experiments reveal our entanglements with landscape, the power of arts pedagogy, and the trouble of settler colonialism.

Explore the adventurous terrain of the MAH's biennial arts festival.