SANTA CRUZ — When Melissa Kreisa launched M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery at the end of 2019, she faced some very challenging circumstances.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in March, led to a significant decrease in people leaving their homes, posing a serious threat to places such as art galleries that relied on visitor traffic. Despite this, Kreisa and her gallery continued to operate, even relocating from Capitola to downtown Santa Cruz. M.K. Contemporary Art is now preparing to mark its fifth anniversary on Friday, coinciding with the First Friday Santa Cruz art tour.
It’s a significant achievement for Santa Cruz and the arts,” said Kreisa. “When we first began, people said, ‘No one has succeeded downtown for more than five years,’ so we’re quite proud.
Kreisa initially launched M.K. Contemporary Art in Capitola Village to display regional artwork.
There are not many chances for artists in the area to showcase their work,” she stated. “There are significantly more artists than there are available exhibition opportunities.
For seven months, Kreisa and her business partner worked to gain traction at the space before the pandemic disrupted their efforts. While her partner chose to exit the venture, Kreisa became even more committed to keeping the gallery operational. She sent 12 letters to empty storefronts and managed to find a location at the former Jedzebel site on 703 Front St., adjacent to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History.
The inside of M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery located on Front Street. The gallery, which began operations in Capitola in 2019, relocated to this location in 2020 and has showcased pieces from many local artists. (Submitted – R.R. Jones)
We were fond of the place,” she stated. “It was located on Front Street with large windows, and we continued to grow and change.
Friend and artist Rose Sellery joined Kreisa as a business partner, whom she called “a game changer.” She also gave credit to local artist Blaine Carter for assisting in transforming the space that had been empty for two years.
When we began, it was quite messy,” Kreisa said. “The inside had beige walls, and… Blaine Carter gave his time and skill to paint the beige walls white in a 4,600-square-foot area, which was no easy task.
Since its inception, M.K. Contemporary Art has been dedicated to promoting the works of local visual artists.
“A significant portion of it was about highlighting local art, as well as fostering a sense of community, and that particular space was ideal for achieving this, given the incredible talent present in our local scene,” she said.
The gallery has also drawn in visitors who may not be artists but still value its offerings, Kreisa said.
The degree of artistic skill has also advanced. Kreisa mentioned that half of the gallery is organized as a rotating area featuring a group exhibition or a specific theme, while the rear part of the gallery highlights over 40 local artists.
We’re creating a vision that showcases local artists, but we also include Bay Area artists to keep it constantly updated and fresh,” she said. “Occasionally in our group exhibitions, we’ll reach as far as Sacramento or have brought in some national talent, but it’s primarily local and regional.
The exterior of M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery showcased a mural created by Taylor Reinhold and the Made Fresh Crew for the 2022 exhibition Street Smarts. Melissa Kreisa relocated the gallery to this Front Street location after being in Capitola for almost a year. (Contributed – Crystal Birns)
M.K. Contemporary Art has presented a variety of exhibitions throughout the years, such as “Broadsides,” which combined art with poems from regional poets; “Ties That Bind,” which displayed the artwork of artists along with their family members; the photography exhibition “Divergent Visions”; and “Here to Eternity,” which highlighted the creations of 14 LGBTQ+ artists to mark 50 years of Santa Cruz Pride.
That was amazing,” said Kreisa. “We collaborated closely with the Diversity Center and (Santa Cruz Pride Board Chair) Rob Darrow since it marked the 50th anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride. We dedicated almost a year to this effort. We were really proud of it.
Following the major Pride exhibition, Kreisa expressed her desire for “a sweet summer exhibition,” leading to the creation of “In This Moment.” The exhibit highlights six artists — among them Kreisa — and includes works featuring flowers, goats, and other uplifting art.
“We simply wanted to create a place during the summer where people could come in and momentarily escape the turmoil of the world while appreciating some art,” she stated.
“In This Moment” will remain on view until August 31 and will serve as the highlight of this week’s First Friday. On the first Friday of every month, galleries across Santa Cruz County open their doors to present their artwork through special events. Kreisa mentioned that M.K. Contemporary Art has only missed two First Fridays since it began—once during the pandemic and once during a heatwave—making it an ideal time to commemorate the gallery’s fifth anniversary.
The gathering will include over 30 artistic pieces, live performances from Wonderstill, and a toast with Champagne.
“We’ll enjoy some enjoyable beverages, celebrate with the public, and raise a glass (and) toast to the gallery and the community,” said Kreisa.
M.K. Contemporary Art is also leading the development of the new art festival Ripple Effect, which aims to unite local arts groups such as the Museum of Art & History, Pajaro Valley Arts, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music for a 10-day event set for April 2026. The festival will start with street dancing and end with a closing event at The Grove—formerly known as the Cocoanut Grove—with various activities in between.
The main objective is to establish Santa Cruz as a prominent arts location,” said Kreisa. “This could potentially serve as the starting point for that.
Kreisa mentioned that the First Friday event is an excellent opportunity to highlight both the gallery’s fifth anniversary and the local art community, particularly because summers often bring a significant number of visitors from various areas to downtown Santa Cruz.
This is a busy time in Santa Cruz,” she said. “We aim to greet visitors and say, ‘Hey, check this out, we have an incredible art community here,’ which has been really enjoyable since people from all around the world are arriving in Santa Cruz right now.
The First Friday gathering takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at 703 Front Street, Santa Cruz.
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