The Studio Door Studio Artists: Past & Present
Walk into The Studio Door art gallery and you will find more than paint on canvas or glass in the kiln. You will discover a living, breathing community of artists. Each person is at a different stage of their creative journey, yet they bound together by the shared rhythm of making. That sense of connection takes center stage in The Studio Door Studio Artists: Past & Present, an exhibition running September 4 – 26, 2025, that brings together 31 artists who have called the gallery home over the years. Think of it as a visual check-in. An opportunity to see how their work has grown, what inspires them now, and how this space has shaped their practice.
Realism oil painter Tim Weedlun says the collaborative energy of The Studio Door has fueled his growth since he joined in 2020. “It’s very invigorating being in a space where everyone’s common goal is artistic expression,” he explains. “Even though each Studio Door artist has a different style and subject matter, we learn from each other’s experiences and even incorporate some of these new techniques or ideas into our own work.”
If Weedlun speaks to the power of exchange, Redin Winter leans into the magic of belonging. After first exhibiting with The Studio Door in 2018 and committing to a studio practice in 2022, Winter says the gallery provided the kind of support system that every artist craves. “Being an artist can sometimes feel isolating, but joining The Studio Door brought me back into community. It is powerful to be surrounded by other working artists. Each creative honing their craft, offering support, and sharing knowledge about everything from technique to marketing to life itself. Out of this grows not only collaboration, but also lasting friendships and mutual understanding.”
And if community is the foundation, the layout of the gallery gives it life. Winter especially loves how the working studios flow into the exhibition space. “Instead of separating the two, we are able to share not just finished pieces, but also the living process of art-making with every person that walks in the front door. This space does not just house our work. It nurtures it.”
Where Winter sees belonging, Crisinda Lyons sees transformation. A fused glass artist who joined The Studio Door at its founding in 2014, Lyons credits the community with giving her the courage to step fully into her role as an artist. “The Studio Door Gallery and the community that has formed there has been very instrumental in helping me to recognize and become an artist. Participating as a studio artist in the gallery and working among the other artists has both challenged me and inspired me to keep pushing the limits of my art.”
And then there’s Stefan Talian, whose story speaks to the long arc of possibility. When he first came through the doors in 2013, he did not even feel comfortable calling himself an artist. “I kept coming to the gallery, exhibiting here and there, and I even picked out a favorite studio I imagined myself in someday. When that very space became available, gallerist Patric Stillman encouraged me to join. I said yes, even though I did not feel ready and that decision changed everything.” Today, Talian’s dreamy figurative paintings have earned international acclaim, yet he still finds magic in the everyday rhythms of the space. “The Studio Door is a sacred place for me. Even in quiet moments, when I walk past the studios, it feels like 17 hearts are beating at any given time.”
Artists participating in the exhibition include Christina Adamopoulos, Farah Ajoodanifar, Alexander Arshansky, Nik Boivin, Karen Cadiero-Kaplan, Trevor Copenhaver, Tommy Diethert, Stevan Dupus, Freddy Duran, Laura Green, Brian Hicks, Michael Hopkins, John Lindhurst, Linda Litteral, Nicole Lovett, Crisinda Lyons, Sally Moluf Hoss, Payton Mullinex, Atul Pande, RD Riccoboni, Danne Sadler, Astha Saini, Christina Schulz, Cassandra Schramm, Syd Stevens, Patric Stillman, Elisabeth Sullivan, Stefan Talian, Andrew Torres, Tim Weedlun and Redin Winter.
Together, their stories show that creativity, mentorship, and community can spark something larger than any single studio practice. Past & Present is more than an exhibition. It is a celebration of artists who continue to grow out of a foundational space that values diversity, authenticity, and connection.
The public is invited to enjoy The Studio Door Studio Artists: Past & Present from September 4 – 26, 2025. A special reception will be held Saturday, September 13, from 6 to 9 PM. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM – 6 PM. The Studio Door is located at 3867 Fourth Avenue in Hillcrest. Visitors are encouraged to support San Diego’s local art scene by purchasing artwork and making personal connections. For more details, visit www.thestudiodoor.com.