Our HiStory:

The Brokers Building Art Gallery traces its roots to a grassroots artist collective that has existed in San Diego for over 40 years. Originally housed in the historic Brokers Building at Fourth Avenue and Market Street in the Gaslamp Quarter, the gallery functioned as a rare, artist-run cultural space embedded directly within the city’s commercial core.

The Gala Opening Party
July 7, 2018 • Exhibition Opening

Hidden Shadows: Sunday Cinema Salon
July 2019 • Film Screening

Afrofuturism Lounge:
July 2018 • Comic Con Event

The original Brokers Building—recognized by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation and once owned by Levi Strauss of Levi’s Jeans Co.—contained more than 50 artist studios and exhibition spaces across multiple floors. Surrounded by major cultural and economic drivers such as the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, and Fifth Avenue nightlife, the gallery stood out as the only grassroots art facility of its kind in the immediate area, offering working artists long-term studios, exhibitions, and a public platform for free expression.

Over decades, the gallery became home to and showcased the work of numerous established and emerging artists, including classic oil painters such as Jo Caldwell, Madeline Sherry, Dan Camp, Hans Chobolits, Peter Suczeck, and many others. The community fostered a deep commitment to traditional craftsmanship, experimentation, and artistic independence.

In 2015–2016, amid increasing redevelopment pressure and the eventual sale of the original building, the artist community faced displacement. In response, longtime members and advocates formally incorporated the Brokers Building Art Gallery Board (BBAGB) as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ensuring the survival of the community beyond a single physical location.

Throughout its history, the Brokers Building Art Gallery served as a platform for critically engaged exhibitions and artist-led experimentation. Solo exhibitions by artists such as Dan Camp received regional attention, with reviews highlighting the psychological rigor and conceptual ambition of the work presented within the space.

ARCHIVAL CRITICAL RECEPTION

Archival review included to reflect the broader artistic context and critical discourse surrounding artists affiliated with the gallery.

A New Chapter

Following relocation and reorganization, BBAGB established its current home near Balboa Park at 1827 Fifth Avenue, entering a new chapter that preserves the DIY ethos and historical legacy of the original collective while expanding its mission to include visual art, sound, performance, and interdisciplinary practices.

Despite the challenges of displacement, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the loss of key community figures, BBAGB has remained active and resilient. Today, it operates as a democratic, artist-centered institution dedicated to cultural access, free speech, and the preservation and advancement of San Diego’s creative community.

Gallery space, original Brokers Building - 404 Market Street

Studio spaces, original Brokers Building - 404 Market Street