Discover Local Artists Before Sierra Art Trails Begins
An October trip through the studios and galleries of our mountain communities can begin with a September stop in Oakhurst.
The Sierra Art Trails Preview Exhibit is now open at Stellar Gallery, offering visitors a chance to explore work by participating artists before deciding whom to visit during next month’s open studio tour.
A reception is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, from 5–8 p.m., according to the organization’s 2026 participation guidelines.
The exhibit offers more than an early look at the artwork. It’s a starting point for discovering the people creating it—and planning a route to meet them.
Find Something That Makes You Curious
The free preview exhibit features original work representing each participating artist, bringing the broader tour together in one location.
For visitors, that makes it possible to browse before building an itinerary. A photograph might draw your attention to a place you recognize. A ceramic piece could spark curiosity about how it was made. Something in an unfamiliar medium might become the reason to add another stop.
You don’t need to arrive with a favorite artist or know exactly what you’re looking for.
The preview gives you a place to start.
Hosted at Stellar Gallery in the Yosemite Gateway Art Center, 40982 Highway 41, Suite 1, the exhibit runs through Oct. 11. Regular hours are 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday through Monday, with the gallery closed Tuesdays.
From the Gallery to the Artist’s Door
The 23rd annual Sierra Art Trails Open Studio Tour takes place Oct. 2–4 and Oct. 9–11, with tour hours from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
The event connects artists’ studios, homes, galleries and other participating locations throughout Eastern Madera and Mariposa counties.
Instead of following a guided group, visitors choose their own stops and set their own pace. The format creates opportunities to meet artists, ask about their work and purchase directly from them.
It also turns the outing into a way to explore our mountain communities. A familiar drive can lead to a studio you’ve never visited or an artist whose work you’re seeing for the first time.
Artists may participate on selected days rather than all six tour dates, so checking individual schedules is an important part of planning.
A Catalog That Becomes Your Route
Admission to the October tour is $25 for two adults, including the Sierra Art Trails catalog. Children attend free.
The catalog serves as both the admission ticket and a planning guide, with artist information, viewing locations and maps.
Combined with the preview exhibit, it gives visitors a way to build a day around the work that interests them most. You might concentrate on nearby stops or make a longer outing through several communities.
For current catalog availability and purchasing information, contact Sierra Art Trails at 559-658-8844.
A Local Outing With Room for Discovery
Sierra Art Trails supports working artists, art education and cultural tourism. Its activities also help fund student scholarships, public art and other arts programs.
For readers deciding whether to explore the tour, the preview offers a simple first step: spend some time with the artwork.
Notice what catches your attention. Find out who made it. Then consider visiting the place where that work begins.
The October studio visits are still a few weeks away, but the discoveries can start now.
Plan Your Visit
Preview exhibit: Through Oct. 11; free and open to the public
Location: Stellar Gallery, Yosemite Gateway Art Center, 40982 Highway 41, Suite 1, Oakhurst
Regular hours: 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday through Monday; closed Tuesdays
Reception: Saturday, Sept. 12, 5–8 p.m.
Open studio tour: Oct. 2–4 and Oct. 9–11, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; check individual artist schedules
Tour admission: $25 for two adults, including the catalog; children free
Learn more at SierraArtTrails.org or call 559-658-8844.