Mike Alcala is a visual artist whose paintings and sculptures draw from everyday life in the working-class neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Raised in Maywood, California, near the factories of Vernon, he developed an interest in how industrial landscapes shape the places people call home. His work combines familiar neighborhood imagery with surreal elements and materials that carry traces of labor and everyday use.

Alcala holds a BFA in Drawing and Painting from California State University, Long Beach. He received the Arts Council for Long Beach's Professional Artist Fellowship in 2024 and has exhibited throughout Southern California.

Los Angeles, CA | studio@mikealcala.com

GROUP EXHIBITIONS & CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2026

  • "Tierra Y Concreto," Midcity Mercado, Los Angeles, CA

  • "Si Se Puede," The dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA

  • "Zombies," Icehouse Arts Complex, Long Beach, CA

  • "F**k A Theme," Espacio 1839, Los Angeles, CA – Curated by Mano-Pesada Productions

2025

  • "Ambivalence," Stay Studio, Downey, CA

  • "In The Commons," Band of Vices, Los Angeles, CA - Curated by Jacqueline Valenzuela

  • "Each One, Teach One," Stay Arts, Downey, CA – Curator & Exhibiting Artist

2024

  • "Spring 24," Icehouse Arts Complex, Long Beach, CA – Organizer & Curator

  • "Rituals," Art Share LA, Los Angeles, CA – Organizer & Curator

  • "Tide Pools," Tryst Art Fair, Torrance, CA – Curated by Nous-Ance

  • "Battle of the Saints," Long Beach City College Gallery, Long Beach, CA – Curated by Self Help Graphics

2023

  • "In The Now," Munzon Gallery, Long Beach, CA

  • "The Local Group Show 5," Stay Arts, Downey, CA

  • "MetaMorphosis," Nous-Ance, Los Angeles, CA

  • "Senses: Sentidos," Expo Arts Center Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

  • "Flowers For You," South Gate Museum, South Gate, CA

2022

  • "Unheard Voices," Nous-Ance, Los Angeles, CA

  • "Mi Barrio My Neighborhood," South Gate Museum, South Gate, CA

  • "The Local Group Show 4," Stay Arts, Downey, CA

  • "Caudate: Take Care," South Gate Museum, South Gate, CA

2021

  • "Al Contrario: On the Contrary," Max L. Gatov Gallery, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

  • 2024 – Professional Artist Fellowship, Arts Council for Long Beach

  • 2024 – Emerging Curator Program, Art Share LA

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2025–2026 – Teaching Artist (Summer Session), Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), Long Beach, CA

    • Developed and led intensive three-week art workshops for youth ages 6–9.

  • 2022–Present – Teaching Artist, Stay Arts, Downey, CA

    • Leads Painting, Printmaking, and Sculpture Workshops for Community Youth and Downey Unified School District.

EDUCATION

  • 2021 – BFA, Studio: Painting and Drawing, California State University, Long Beach, CA

  • 2018 – Associate Degree, Studio Art, East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park, CA

ARTIST TALKS

  • 2022 – "Patience, Progress, Productivity," California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA