Chloe Isiah, Crystal Glacier from Spyro 2 Ripto’s Rage, 2020, acrylic on paper, 9 x 12 in

Tierra del Sol is pleased to present a collection of paintings by Chloe Isiah. Featuring forty-seven acrylic works on paper installed in Tierra’s Annex Gallery, this exhibition brings together fabulous, psychedelic landscapes that function both as magical vistas and hyperreal journeys. The presentation marks Isiah’s first solo exhibition at Tierra del Sol.

Isiah’s world sparkles with celestial bodies drifting across electrically defined forms. In other compositions, the distinction between night and day dissolves beneath suns that burn with visionary intensity. Modest in scale yet powerful in their use of color, these paintings recall the poetic landscapes of Etel Adnan: small windows that open onto brief yet epic views of symbolic terrain. At the same time, Isiah’s work remains playful, with titles referencing levels from the Spyro the Dragon PlayStation franchise, including Icy Speedway, Cloud Temples, and Sunny Villa. These digitally rendered fantasy environments are transformed through Isiah’s hand into something more organic, experimental, and vividly felt.

Pop, abstraction, video games, dragon realms, and candy-colored sunsets converge in Isiah’s deeply original vision. Synthesizing an eclectic range of influences, she creates cohesive, beautiful, and spectral journeys through color.

Chloe Isiah was born in 1998 in Van Nuys, California. She has been a Tierra del Sol artist since 2019. Her work has been exhibited at Tierra del Sol Gallery in Los Angeles, and Space Is the Place, a group exhibition curated by Alison Saar. Isiah is also a poet who has been published in Summoned by the Sea and It Makes You Think of Soul Things in Your Mind, collections of art and poetry by Tierra del Sol artists.

Dru McKenzie
DRU
Opening reception
Saturday, March 21, 6 – 8 pm
March 21 – April 25, 2026

Untitled #945, ND, acrylic and watercolor on paper, 12.5 x 20 in

Tierra del Sol Gallery is proud to present DRU, the second major survey of long-time program artist Dru McKenzie. For more than 25 years, McKenzie has developed a singular body of work in her signature visionary, playful, and inimitable style. This retrospective traces her evolving use of line and color across a range of genres, including still life, portraiture, and tableaux, each pushed toward extremes of stylization. What emerges is a truly distinctive mastery of drawing and mark-making.

Drawing from source material as varied as National Geographic and fashion magazines, the works gathered in this exhibition illuminate McKenzie’s rich personal iconography, often rendered in bold graphic lines and saturated planes of color. Forms float within fields of vibrating marks, thick paint, and washes, while other compositions depict space as an abstract intersection of lines and rectangles. Familiar smiles appear on animals across time, and McKenzie arranges her figures into exuberant yet disciplined leaps through the air.

Line remains the constant through all of McKenzie’s work. Her practice carries echoes of Jean Dubuffet’s totemic compositions as well as the colorful, poster-like works of Henri Matisse. Even when working in acrylic, with graphic qualities that bring to mind Bill Traylor, McKenzie renders her figures as symbols: glyph-like forms that circulate throughout her studio practice with ritualistic intensity. Her signature, almost always written as DRU in capital letters and often repeated three times, functions as a pictograph itself, suggesting a primordial slippage between drawing and writing.

DRU stands as a testament to a lifelong creative engagement with the world, a marvel of the possibilities of drawing, and a triumph of personal vision. This major retrospective is on view at Tierra del Sol Gallery in West Hollywood from March 21 through April 25, 2026.

Dru McKenzie was born in 1957 and joined Tierra del Sol in 1998. She has had solo exhibitions at Tierra del Sol Gallery in Los Angeles and at 24 Hour Gallery in Pasadena, California. Her work has also been featured in exhibitions at Good Luck Gallery in Los Angeles; Berenberg Gallery in Boston; Gensler in Santa Monica; Bridge Gallery at Los Angeles City Hall; Da Vinci Gallery at Los Angeles City College; and Art Enables in Washington, D.C. Her work was included in Space Is the Place, a group exhibition curated by Alison Saar. McKenzie was also featured in Doug Harvey’s Artsy article, “10 L.A. Artists Whose Work You Probably Don’t Know—but Should.”

Tierra del Sol Gallery:
Tierra del Sol Gallery is part of the Tierra del Sol Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1971 that supports adults with disabilities through creative pathways to employment, education, and the arts. Based in West Hollywood, the gallery presents year-round exhibitions and public programs that connect artists from Tierra del Sol’s progressive art studios with national and international audiences.

Tierra del Sol Gallery has debuted artists at major art fairs including Felix, Frieze, NADA Miami, and The Armory Show, and works by its artists are held in the collections of MoMA, the American Folk Art Museum, and El Museo del Barrio. All sales directly support the artists and the Foundation’s mission to foster inclusive, sustainable creative careers.

Gallery events attached to this show:
March 21, 6 – 8pm, Public Reception

If you have any questions, contact:
Paige Wery
pwery@tierradelsol.org
323-243-0658

The post Tierra del Sol Gallery Presents Two Solo Exhibitions! Chloe Isiah (Annex Gallery) & Dru McKenzie (DRU) appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

The 2026 themes – “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future” and “We’re Here: Then, Now, Always” – remind us that women have long been leaders in building more inclusive communities. From advocates and caregivers to artists, professionals, and change makers with developmental disabilities, women continue to shape a future where everyone belongs.

Women with disabilities and their allies have played vital roles in the disability rights movement, advocating for equity in housing, education, employment, and community life. At the same time, women make up 75% of the direct care workforce, providing essential support that helps individuals with developmental disabilities thrive.

This month we celebrate the achievements, leadership, and voices of women across the disability community, and recognize the remarkable women in our programs and services, as well as the women who have dedicated their lives to our mission and advocate and proudly support people with disabilities.

Here are some ways you can join us in celebrating and showing your support:
• Wear purple to promote disability awareness and solidarity
• Share stories that highlight the talents and achievements of people with developmental disabilities
• Amplify the voices of women with disabilities and those who support them.

There are lots of inspiring stories on our social media and in our newsletters about women in our programs, services, and agency who are thriving and inspiring members of the community.

Facebook.com/tierradelsolfoundation

Instagram.com/tierradelsolfdn

WHM Hashtags you can use on social media!
#WomensHistoryMonth
#DDAM2026
#DisabilityAwareness
#InclusionMatters
#IAmTierra

At Tierra del Sol, we believe inclusion means recognizing the contributions of every individual —
yesterday, today, and always.

The post  Happy Women’s History Month!!!  appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

The post Happy Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM)! At Tierra we’re not just celebrating all March long, we’re celebrating ALL YEAR LONG! appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

Did you know that Black History is intertwined with Disability History? In fact, the Disability Rights Movement was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement with several black leaders who played a critical role in paving the way for change such as Brad Lomax, Johnnie Lacy, Maya Angelou, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Lois Curtis.

At Tierra, we stand in solidarity with the black community and continue to work towards the day when all people are valued for their contributions and gifts. We are proud of our associates, artists, and students and all they bring to this world.

If you would like to support Black Artists in our Careers in the Arts program, visit Tierra’s Gallery – tierradelsolgallery.org – and check out works by John Maull, Marlena Arthur, Kyle Johnson, Aracely Ellis, Tony Barnes, and more!

If you would like to learn more about Black History Month and the Disabilities Movement, check out this great article by our friends at the NILP, https://www.nilp.org/black-history-month-and-the-disability-rights-movement/.

The post February is Black History Month! appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

This event is your chance to advocate, ask questions, and learn about the legislative process. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the conversation! The LACSP is comprised of 16 non-profit providers, representing over 23,000 individuals with developmental disabilities who receive Regional Center services.

The post Join Rebecca Lienhard and the Los Angeles Coalition of Service Providers (LACSP) for an Online Legislative Forum on Friday, February 6 from 9-10 AM appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

All proceeds benefit the individuals with developmental disabilities served by Tierra del Sol through Workforce Development, College to Career, and Careers in the Arts.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

All green fees include: swag, cart, BBQ lunch, on-course beverages, & dinner reception

GRAND SPONSORSHIP – $6,000

Two foursomes, 4 tee signs, 8 dinner tickets, 2 mulligan raffle entries, full page ad in tribute book, featured recognition at registration and dinner, and pre/post marketing materials, ad in The Daily News

SPECIALTY SPONSORSHIP – $4,000

One foursome, 2 tees signs, mulligan raffle entry,1/2 page ad in tribute book, ad in The Daily News, and your logo on one of the following items:

• Hat   • Towels   • Tee Marker

FOURSOME – $2,500

Tee sign, mulligan raffle entry, 1/3 page ad in tribute book

PREMIUM SPONSORSHIP – $2,000

4 dinner tickets, full page ad in tribute book, tee sign, recognition at dinner, and your logo displayed as a sponsor of our:

• Reception Cocktails   • Longest Drive • Golf Prizes

BEVERAGE SPONSORSHIP – $1,000

Signage at beverage stations, 2 dinner tickets, tee sign, and half page ad in tribute bookIndividual Golfer – $600

Join us for a reception, auctions and dinner (hosted bar) – $100

Click here to reserve your sponsorship, foursome, dinner ticket, or ad TODAY!

Advertising opportunities below:

All artwork due by Friday, April 10. Please send high resolution camera ready artwork (pdf, png or eps) for ads/logos to Janice Marie Estrada, jestrada@tierradelsol.org, (818) 415-5290.

Full Page $750 (5.5” w x 8.5” h)

Third Page $250 (5.5” w x 2.5” h)

Half Page $500 (5.5” w x 4.5” h)

Tee Sign $200

The post Tierra’s 19th Annual Golf Tournament, Dinner, and Auction appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

by Federal Benefit Disruptions

With the ongoing federal government shutdown disrupting critical nutrition funding, the City of Los Angeles is taking urgent action to protect more than 600,000 Angelenos whose CalFresh benefits – California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – may be delayed.

Two federal court rulings have ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to resume SNAP funding, but it may take several days for funds to reach recipients in Los Angeles.

City Resources

• FamilySource Centers: Weekly fresh food distribution regardless of immigration status. Find a site at the FamilySource Centers webpage.
• Senior meals: The Department of Aging and LA City Recreation & Parks continue meal programs for older adults. Call 1-800-510-2020 (voice), email age.webinfo@lacity.org, or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS).
• Emergency financial assistance: Limited help with rent, utilities, and essentials. Learn more at LA4Families.org.

County & State Resources

• Food pantry locator: Find a pantry or pop-up at the LA Regional Food Bank locator. You can also call 323-234-3030.
• Student meals: Details at LAUSD Café LA or call 213-443-1300.
• County parks food programs: See LA County Parks food programs for youth, teens, and seniors.
• WIC: Apply at California WIC or text APPLY to 91997.
• YMCA FeedLA: See free grocery and meal distribution.

Stay Informed

Continue submitting Semi-Annual Reports (SAR7) and renewal forms so benefits can be issued as soon as funding is available. Check updates at BenefitsCal.

How to Help

Donate to local food banks, faith-based organizations, or neighborhood food relief programs. You can also visit the FamilySource Centers webpage to learn how to support your community.

Español

Apoyo Comunitario a Los Angelinos Afectados por la Interrupción de Los Beneficios Federales

Debido al cierre del gobierno federal que está afectando la financiación crítica de nutrición, la ciudad de Los Ángeles está tomando medidas urgentes para proteger a más de 600,000 angelinos cuyos beneficios de CalFresh – la versión de California del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) – podrían retrasarse.

Dos fallos federales ordenaron al Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA) reanudar la financiación de SNAP, pero los fondos podrían tardar varios días en llegar a los beneficiarios en Los Ángeles.

Recursos de la Ciudad

• Centros FamilySource: Distribución semanal de alimentos frescos sin importar estatus migratorio. Busque un sitio en la página de FamilySource Centers.
• Comidas para adultos mayores: Programas del Departamento de Envejecimiento y Parques y Recreación. Llame al 1-800-510-2020 (voz), escriba a age.webinfo@lacity.org o marque 711 para el Servicio de Retransmisión.
• Asistencia financiera de emergencia: Apoyo limitado para renta, servicios y gastos esenciales. Más información en LA4Families.org.

Recursos del Condado y del Estado

• Buscador de despensas: Encuentre una despensa o distribución emergente en el localizador del Banco de Alimentos Regional de LA. También puede llamar al 323-234-3030.
• Comidas para estudiantes: Detalles en LAUSD Café LA o llamando al 213-443-1300.
• Programas de comida del condado: Consulte programas de alimentos para jóvenes, adolescentes y adultos mayores.
• WIC: Solicite en California WIC o envíe APPLY al 91997.
• YMCA FeedLA: Vea distribución gratuita de comestibles y comidas.

Manténgase Informado

Presente los informes semestrales (SAR7) y formularios de renovación para que los beneficios se emitan tan pronto como haya fondos. Consulte actualizaciones en BenefitsCal.

Cómo Ayudar

Si puede hacerlo, done a bancos de alimentos locales, organizaciones comunitarias o programas de ayuda alimentaria. Visite su Centro FamilySource más cercano para obtener más información sobre cómo apoyar a su comunidad.

The post Community Support for Angelenos Impacted by Federal Benefit Disruptions appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

Like last year, one work has been selected from each artist in the program. Together, our team spent hours at both the Sunland and Upland studios and chose works that, when contextualized alongside each other, would highlight and complement each other, while also creating quaint and compartmentalized markets of whimsy. Bazaar Bazaar is simultaneously an elevated gallery exhibition and an extended down-to-earth shopping event. We strive to make everyone feel at ease while visiting the gallery at all times, but this is a fun opportunity to do so with full freedom from any outside forces and absolute appreciation for the potential of a more direct cultural exchange.

Bazaar Bazaar, as a yearly tradition, provides us with a platform to showcase the range and the depth of our artists and the community that has been built and continues to be built among them over time. Much like vendors at a market, our artists get to know each other week after week — their backgrounds, their ambitions, their lifestyles, etc. — and these relationships certainly have an effect on these individuals and their work. Each time we enter their studios, we learn so much from and about them, just as they learn from and about each other.

This year’s bazaar includes a wide assortment of shops from the feathers and fur shop to the globetrotter shop to the home and garden shop to the prism shop. This is where the conceptual and the pragmatic playfully collide for us here at Tierra. Within each shop, you will find stunning works by familiar names who have been featured at or by the gallery numerous times over the years, such as Marlena Arthur, Tony Barnes, John Maull, Dru McKenzie, and Joe Zaldivar, alongside plenty of new surprises by so many of our other amazing artists who share studio space with them. Bazaar Bazaar is at once a serious celebration and a spunky spectacle; come say hi and celebrate within the spectacle!

Bazaar Bazaar opens at Tierra del Sol Gallery in West Hollywood on Saturday, November 15th with a reception from
6-8 pm. The exhibition will be on view through December 23rd, 202

The post BAZZAR, BAZZAR! Our annual end-of-year exhibition featuring 140 artists Opening Reception: Saturday, November 15, 6-8 pm On View: November 15 – December 23, 2025 appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

Kidspace Children’s Museum and Tierra del Sol Foundation are proud to announce Here I Am, the newest exhibition in their long-standing partnership supporting artists with disabilities. Opening with a private reception on October 30, 2025, the exhibition will be on view at Kidspace through early 2026.

For more than a decade, Kidspace and Tierra del Sol have collaborated to champion inclusion and expand creative opportunities for people with disabilities. Here I Am marks the third joint exhibition highlighting art, ability, and possibility, continuing both organizations’ shared mission to empower artists and broaden access to the arts.

Curated by Tierra del Sol artist Bill Marshall, Here I Am features works by eighteen artists exploring the relationship between identity and place. From everyday scenes to abstract compositions, the exhibition examines how our surroundings shape self-perception, and how self-expression, in turn, transforms the spaces we inhabit.

“I feel like I am abstract, and it connects me to my work,” said Marshall, reflecting on the show’s theme of identity as a dynamic exchange between artist and environment.

Lisa Clements, CEO of Kidspace Museum, emphasized the broader vision behind the collaboration. “Creativity is a bridge that connects people of all ages and abilities,” she said. “Partnering with Tierra del Sol deepens our commitment to inclusion and amplifies the voices of artists who inspire us to see the world in new ways.”

The opening reception for Here I Am will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 6:30 pm at Kidspace Museum. The event will feature a live performance by the inclusive dance troupe Straight Up Abilities, hands-on artmaking with Tierra artists, and opportunities for interviews with artists and organizational leaders.

Following the opening, Kidspace will host public art workshops led by Tierra artists. The exhibition will remain on view for museum guests through early 2026.

Here I Am is made possible in part by the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division.

The post Kidspace Museum and Tierra del Sol Foundation Announce Here I Am, a New Exhibition Celebrating Artists with Disabilities. appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

When Dr. Rebecca Lienhard discusses her work at Tierra del Sol Foundation, she doesn’t just view her role as CEO of an organization, supporting over 800 individuals with developmental disabilities across Southern California; she sees it as a lifelong calling.

Dr. Lienhard joined Tierra del Sol in 1990, driven by a passion for creating opportunities for people with disabilities who had too often been told “no” to their hopes and dreams. Over time, she took on nearly every role at the foundation, gaining firsthand experience in how each program affects lives. By the time she was appointed CEO in 2014, she had already built a career defined by persistence, creativity, and the belief that inclusion is non-negotiable.

“My favorites were those where I was either teaching our associates how to be successful in their jobs or teaching our staff how to be successful with their associates. I’ve always enjoyed listening to the people we serve and where they want to go with their lives. Then it becomes a challenge for me—making that a reality, not just a dream,” she shares.

She knows firsthand the barriers her associates face: “The associates Tierra typically serves have usually been told ‘no’, their entire lives, to the point that they either stop believing it to be possible or stop dreaming altogether. Still, when the job finally opens up, there is no greater feeling than seeing someone find a home where they are valued for their unique contributions and strengths. Multiply that moment by 35 years and hundreds of people, and you will now know why it is hard to leave this amazing place.”

What makes Tierra del Sol unique? For Dr. Lienhard, it’s not just the programs: it’s the philosophy.

“We believe that all people can work,” she explains. “We champion inclusion and value for all people, regardless of disability, through creative pathways to employment. We listen, truly listen, to each person. We live through our values of person-centeredness, honesty, respect, passion, and full engagement. We are driven to make full lives happen for each person served.”

That commitment shows in the details. Tierra del Sol partners with more than 200 employers. The foundation’s programs support not just employment but also careers in the arts, professional volunteering, and college-to-career transitions. Each initiative is grounded in the idea that a person’s dreams, whether to be an artist, an office professional, or a student, are worth pursuing.

Dr. Lienhard’s influence extends well beyond the organization’s walls. She has become a leading voice in the national disability services field, shaping policies and practices that champion inclusion. Her service includes positions on the California Department of Developmental Services’ Vendor Advisory Committee, Woodbury University’s School of Business Advisory Board, and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Employment First Committee.

She has presented at numerous national and local conferences hosted by APSE, TASH, USC, and the Autism Society of Los Angeles, among others. Each time, she carries the same message: inclusion benefits everyone.

When asked what she loves most about Tierra del Sol, Dr. Lienhard doesn’t hesitate: “All of it—all 800+ lives we serve. Their lives are so rich and complex. We can learn so much if we take the time. All of the staff—all 400+ of them! Their lives are also so complex. I am always amazed by how much they must sacrifice to work at Tierra, to do a job they love. It is a privilege to walk beside each of them daily. The honor is mine, and I can only hope they know that daily.”

It’s this blend of humility and admiration that defines her leadership style. Over the years, Dr. Lienhard has been recognized with awards such as the Los Angeles Times Inspirational Women of the Year (2021) and the United Chambers of Commerce Inspirational Women Award (2017). She has been named multiple times among the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s Top 200 Leaders.

And now, her work is about to be celebrated on a national stage.

This season, Dr. Lienhard will be featured on the Hallmark Network’s “Celebrations with Lacey Chabert,” a series that follows the actress as she honors individuals making a positive impact in their communities. She is one of just eight leaders from across the country chosen to be spotlighted. Viewers can expect laughs, tears, and a huge surprise as Tierra’s mission and Dr. Lienhard’s leadership are celebrated for audiences everywhere. The episode aired on September 22nd, but can be viewed on Hallmark+.

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