Nonprofit and donor-supported, Armory Center for the Arts is the region’s leading independent institution for contemporary art exhibitions and community arts education. The Armory believes that an understanding and appreciation of the arts is essential for a well-rounded human experience and a healthy civic community.
Contemporary Art Exhibitions
Armory exhibitions inspire dialogue around visual culture and contemporary life, contribute to global discourses in contemporary art, and introduce contemporary visual art to Pasadena, Southern California, and beyond.
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In addition to critically acclaimed exhibitions by contemporary artists, our exhibitions team also produces a broad range of public programs, including artist residencies, forums, screenings, and performances. Admission is always free. Donations are appreciated.
Community Art Education
At the core of our mission is a deep commitment to social justice through arts education. Every day, our teaching artists transform lives and communities through the power of art. They teach year-round studio art classes for all ages at our Old Pasadena facility. They collaborate with incarcerated teens to create murals inside juvenile detention camps. They instruct graphic design workshops at continuation high schools in Boyle Heights. They help public school teachers integrate art with math to excite imaginations and inspire critical thinking. They deliver free art classes at low-income elementary schools, inner-city parks, and recreation centers—mentoring some our most vulnerable community members. The Armory can do all these things for one simple reason: we have a strong community that supports and inspires us. You are part of this community. This is what the power of art looks like.
