Gallery Nucleus is always the first stop on my mind when I visit Alhambra :) Their selection of art books and prints is amazing, and I've had the pleasure of attending one of their Tuesday night cosplay figure drawing events! The staff are nice, and the exhibits themselves are so inspirational. Overall, it's such a treat, and a great space to discover new artists while connecting with fellow creatives! read more

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Nucleus is a small art gallery exhibit and bookstore in Alhambra and this shop has been here as long as I can remember since the late 2000s. Apparently Nucleus expanded and opened a second location in Portland in 2016. [Parking]: Easy and free street parking. If parking is not available on Main St, then there are plenty of public parking spots and parking plazas in downtown Alhambra. [Space]: The space is separated into a bookstore at the front with various art books and a rotating art exhibit (Wicked in March 2026) at the back. All art on display is for sale. The bookstore sells mostly art books (both original works and artwork from specific anime, games, or pop culture) as well as various original greeting cards. Tickets are not required to see the exhibit and admission is free. [Conclusion]: A neat spot to see various unique art prints and a free exhibit. Chances are if you are at Nucleus then you are also here to check out other spots in downtown Alhambra (e.g. grabbing tea drinks or visiting other miscellaneous shops). read more

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Price: Free to enter for regular visits. Certain special events may have admission. Artwork, prints, books, and other merchandise are available for purchase. Location: Located along Alhambra's Main Street area, making a nice place to walk around nearby shops and cafes. Parking is typically found on side streets or nearby lots within a short walking distance. Restrooms are available for patrons and visitors. Ambiance: The gallery is well laid out and spacious, balancing retail display areas with open exhibition space. Artwork sales are positioned toward the front while the main exhibit areas extend across both the first and second floors. Featured artists rotate regularly, giving the space a fresh feel. Menu: If considering what's available for purchase, the gallery focuses on featured artists' works, including prints, original pieces, and related merchandise, along with select items from other artists. Service: Staff are consistently kind and welcoming. read more

Nucleus - Art Galleries Near Me - Alhambra, California

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I was so happy I was able to come here for the first time during the KoG art event during my birthday week! ٩(^o^)۶ I loved how they got some music in the background and have lots of cool books and posters u can get! And I liked how they offer lots of little magnify glasses so u can look at the little details in the art they showcased in the gallery. What's crazy is that I got this fun experience FOR FREE :0 (I seen that it's common that they hold gallery's for different media here so idk if those were also free but for the KoG event it was free btw) the only thing I paid for was that poster I wanted that was similar to my fav art piece in the KoG gallery () I definitely recommend coming here just for fun cuz they got some cool stuff :D read more

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Fantastic time at the Kpop Demon Hunters Panel on October 18. Learned a lot about the cool behind the scenes and technical aspects of the movie. Getting the signatures of the animation, art and Production team was so cool. The 1 hour event ended up being 2 hours which went by so fast. They could have charged more for the event and I would have happily paid. The Nucleus staff was also very nice and the line wasn't super long! I was there at 12:50pm (event opened at 1pm) and I was about 10th in line. Lots of cool merch and prints for sale. I hope they host more KPDH events and their Patreon was very organized. Seeing the unreleased concept art in the gallery was really cool and wish I could buy it all for my house. One day... Lots of free parking in the back and there were Moonbridge donuts for sale too. read more

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Came here for the God of War opening night exhibition quite a while back, while I didn't hear good things about the food from the food truck that they decided to collaborate with, I'm a huge fan of this gallery. I come here every once in a while since it's pretty far away from me. And it's a gem! And I hope it's always around. They do really frequently exhibits of various different games/animations/series. Love the variety of artwork and art books they have from small and indie artists for pretty affordable prices, in my opinion. I'd personally avoid coming on an opening night because it just gets too crowded. It's definitely worth it to pay extra to grab tickets to see the panel/signing associate with it. Otherwise, I'd come after opening night to see the exhibition work without the crowds. There's a few parking spots in front of the store, but a structure nearby with plenty. read more

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Very cute bookstore with occasional different exhibition. Great news are lots of them come at free entrance so certainly worth exploring when in the area. If you're into art, the collection they sell are plentiful as well. If you're just a passer-bys like me, they sell cute cards and stickers. Pricing wise is similar to typical bookstores. read more

This is a neat art gallery that's easily accessible. You can park at the Sprouts plaza parking lot and walk here or if you're already walking through Main Street. The staff have always been friendly. They have multiple art exhibits throughout the year. And there's loads of art books and merch available. Some selections can be a bit pricy but I'm sure for some it's worth it. read more

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Nucleus is both an art gallery and shop that curates fun exhibitions and carries a variety of books, zines, posters and various goods. I've been eyeing a few books for quite some time and recently picked one up! If you enjoy cartoons, games or just art in general, you'll be pleased with what Nucleus has to offer. I've been to several exhibitions and have enjoyed each one and always look forward to their future exhibitions. When looking at the gallery, there are several microscopes available to look at the art pieces in detail. The gallery maximizes its art space by displaying artwork on both sides of the stairway and features artwork on the second floor as well. Nucleus is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy art or love unique reads. read more

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This is a hard review to write because part of my review is about the store and gallery itself, and the other part, which is the frustrating and upsetting part, is about the gallery as a venue hosting artists, events, and/or exhibits. Be seated please, because this is a long review. If you're looking for a TLDR, here it is: great bookshop and gift store (5 stars)...BUT, terrible management/founder-ship of the gallery when hosting ticketed events because of the treatment of fans, and lack of air circulating through the building despite stuffing people in like sardines (2 stars). If we're talking solely about the gallery located in Alhambra, CA, it is small but mighty, with a lovely curation of books from stunning art to whimsy. They also carry art prints and enamel pins by a lot of the artists in animation, gaming, book illustration, and entertainment industry. They're truly unique and one of a kind as a boutique book and gift shop. I would absolutely give this place 5 stars if it was merely about the shop. However, the gallery as a venue would be 2 stars. I have been to Gallery Nucleus for special exhibits and met artists and authors. This is something I appreciate about the gallery hosting more intimate events. A month ago, I went to an illustrator signing, and this was not a ticketed event. They hosted this specific artist on the second floor of the building, and I felt so awful for the artist, and the rest of the fans waiting in line. It was stuffy and hot. There was not enough air circulating. The artist was incredibly gracious and kind to the fans as he signed his art, but you could clearly tell he was sweating, and the staff kept bringing him water. Recently, I went to a ticketed event for a panel (phenomenal panel!), where there was an admission fee. I understand why so that the gallery could cap the number of people. In addition to this event, the policy was that only 2 items are allowed for signing per person with the panelists. The gallery sells merchandise for fans to purchase for the signing, and fans are going to support whoever it is they love. However, what I find a little messed up is, if an item is not purchased from the gallery, there is a $10 signing fee per item. While I think it's quite fair that the gallery must limit the items a fan can get signed to keep the line moving, there are major shortcomings of the gallery that I wish to address. This is towards management/founder about the way they host popular events. Yes, the gallery must keep the flow of traffic going for signing, but I didn't expect that fans who paid an admission fee, would be treated as if they're churned through a factory assembly line. I watched as people waited their turn, stood before the panelists, and even as they tried to talk to them, the employees were directed to push the fan's merchandise down the table. You can FEEL the rush and impatient energy of the staff as you play catch-up to your merchandise which has traveled ahead. I feel the gallery should be versed enough to host events where they can monitor and move people along in a better way that doesn't take the excitement out of these events for the fans. I would have thought that as a gallery with a vision to connect fans to this unique industry, it's ironic that they stole that joy from both the panelists and fans getting to connect. In addition to what I mentioned, the gallery packed the attendees in like sardines. I understand the small space and the need to maximize capacity with what they have, but the awful thing is, there was no air circulating. The venue was hot and stale as the panel went on. Several people shared that they had headaches because of the poor circulation. This is such a failure on the gallery's part, because this is not their first rodeo hosting. However, I fear that management/owner just hasn't cared to do better, because I came across a review in Jan. 2024, almost 2 years ago at this point, mentioning the same things I am mentioning now in my review. It is unfortunate that the gallery as a venue leaves a lot to be desired, because they technically are unique in what they're able to host, given their connection to the industry. However, with how attendees are treated, I find it hard to support the gallery directly and will now try to purchase merchandise from the artists themselves if it's possible. On a bit of a positive note, I want to recognize great customer service by Omar, one of the staff members, for his patience, warmth, and joy he brought when answering questions and imparting his knowledge. He was empathetic to many of the fans' plight during the ticketed event. While he had no power to change what has been the directive to him, I appreciate that he did his best to make fans still feel welcomed. That's a testament to his kindness and understanding of what a true fan feels in these moments. Thank you, Omar. And thank you to the wonderful artists who carve out time to try to connect with the fans. read more

I'm not a huge art person, but I thought this place was really cool. I really enjoyed the types of books and stationary offered here. Especially the hard-covered graphic novels. I'm glad there's a place like this in Alhambra! Let's support it and keep it open! read more

I went to Gallery Nucleus yesterday. I had a great time. I went with the intention to check out the The Art of Arcane exhibit. I was impressed with what concept art I saw displayed for the exhibit. I thought it was also nice that fan art was included. I also checked out the Mythos exhibit upstairs briefly. I explored the gift shop and was happy to see a plethora of art books with some focusing on movies, shows, and video games. Towards closing hours, there was a live drawing session taking place on the first floor with an owl, falcon, and tegu as drawing subjects. read more

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Would definitely come back! It's a free mini art gallery plus bookstore. The books are art collection books, anime inspired books, and other unique artsy books you probably couldn't find anywhere else. They sell cute greeting cards and art prints too. The price point is high so that's expected. I would return for the art gallery located right behind the bookstore. It seems they rotate a featured artist every year or certain number of days. They also have a small upstairs section of the art gallery. I would return for the art gallery and to browse through the books if I'm in the area again. read more

I first heard about this place from a Destiny 2 announcement and found out that this was a mini art gallery. I went on a Saturday afternoon and there was a decent amount of people inside. The venue was spacious with two floors. The upstairs/hall was smaller but gave a nice darker feel to match some of the destiny artworks and pieces on display. The front of the gallery was a store, selling what I assume to be extra merch from previous galleries. Overall it was a great experience, nice small spot to take a look at some art. read more

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Nucleus is an awesome art shop in the 626! Every time I come here, I always leave with a new art print for the crib! There is street parking around the area or also some parking lots for other businesses where you can park at as well. This spot is separated into 2 areas: the art and gift shop area and the art exhibition area. When you first walk in, you'll see all the goodies and art prints they have for sale. As you walk further into the store, you'll see the art exhibition they have on display. There is also an upstairs area where they'll have some bonus art displays to view. Overall, definitely stop by here if you want to support local artists and purchase some art prints for your space. They also have a website where you can browse the extensive list of prints they have for sale. Make sure to keep up with their social media to see when they'll have new exhibitions! read more

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A fun gallery for anyone who enjoys art. Their store wasnʻt kid friendly (nudity in books) so be aware of that when planning a visit.

If you're a fan of all things art, pop culture, and imaginative worlds brought to life, Gallery Nucleus deserves a visit whenever you're around the Alhambra area. They have a ton of events and exhibitions happening from time to time, collaborating from artists with various followings from all over the globe. Additionally, they also have their shop out in the front when you first step inside as well in case you're in the mood to expand or start a collection of talented artistry. Walking inwards, they have usually have three separate galleries split into the main open space out on the first floor, the stairway gallery, and the upstairs display where from there, you can oversee through their window down towards the entirety of Nucleus. Be sure to check out their website for any ongoing or upcoming celebrations as well since they usually decorate their interiors to match a certain theme. read more

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Nucleus is a hybrid of art gallery and indie bookstore. The selection of books is as quaint as it is unique (many are self-published books) and the art gallery in the back has a fantastic selection of rotating artists that changes once about every month or so. Parking is easily found behind the Sprouts nearby and the prices for the books is beyond reasonable (they also have comic books, and anime and video game art books, a really complete selection!). The ambiance is nice and the one clerk was, at all times, helpful while letting people mind their own business and peruse the materials. Truly a 5/5 experience! read more

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We went to nucleus for the monmon cats exhibit (running through 10/20/24!) and it was great! I find the opening days to be a little too crowded, but you are able to take a free self guided tour of the gallery during opening hours. Nucleus also has a large collection of zines and books as well as art prints and stickers. If you don't see what you're looking for, definitely ask the wonderful staff! read more

Nucleus Art Gallery is such a flex and cool art gallery in the heart of Alhambra on Main Street. There's plenty of free parking in the area. The Gallery is quite small, basically, one large room followed by a stairwell (with another gallery space along the walls) leading to a second floor for another gallery space exhibit. So they can hold about 3 different small exhibits, and I have to say I was really impressed with the exhibits! The curation is spot on! I do have to preface that I love art galleries and museums, and this is a stellar gallery. Walking around the area, it's sad to see so many empty spaces for lease. My wish is that the City of Alhambra can work with other nonprofits to create a museum row along Main Street that is of the same caliber as Nucueles, similar to when you go to Chinatown and find a row of various art galleries. Imagine all these empty storefronts turned into various galleries with different types of art and Friday or Saturday nights with art block parties. Just putting it out there. I bet the leases are high, but if the city can work out a contract to turn the area into a bustling art scene, it would be great for the community. Just my two cents and hope it can happen because Nucleus has set such a fantastic model of what more can be done in the area for the arts. read more

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Came here specifically to see the solo exhibit by Yoichi Nishikawa. The art from Nishikawa that they hung up were absolutely breathtaking, the details and the color that went into each piece was stunning! It looks like there were two exhibits going on at the same time, one downstairs and the one upstairs was for Studio Ghibli. The gallery itself was a bit smaller than what I was expecting but I still had a good time nonetheless. They also sell a lot of merch and current and past prints of exhibits. read more

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Just received an art book by Yoichi Nishikawa from Nucleus. The order arrived in perfect condition and very well packaged. Took around two weeks from Japan to Europe, which is perfectly acceptable. Happy to order again there. read more

Going through university I changed majors often. I didn't know what interested me and even now I only want to do work I'm passionate about. So how happy was I to see a gallery right in the heart of SGV that not only sold aesthetically pleasing products regarding, art but utilized a significant amount of space to showcase artwork from several artists. The styling of the building is stark white with large windows at the entrance to help bring in as much light as possible. Looking at just the front section and you'll see professional books regarding different art techniques, stories of artists, and even children's books. You can see large posters of independent artists who made art for popular media like Disney films or anime series. Just this section alone could be a neat art store. However, walk past and you'll see a large space where rows of art are placed all around the walls at eye level. This is where the unique skills and creativity of different artists can take you to realms of homage or to their own imagination. On top of that, all art work has the name of the artist as well as a price so if you find something that tickles your fancy you can buy it (almost all priced range at $100). Some of the art I find to be captivating whilst others I find way too expensive but to each their own. I'm just happy there's a space where artists CAN showcase their passion AND get paid. Overall, a visit to Nucleus could be a short visit or an extended one with lengthy conversation, depending on who you're with. Though not a showcase destination it is a unique one where you'll leave with an impression. Whether looking for inspiration, killing time, or on a date I highly recommend checking it out. read more

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I attended the meet & greet/autograph signing of artist Yusuke Kozaki and I very much appreciated that the staff here were friendly and polite while still maintaining the line for it in an organized fashion (quite refreshing as I've been to many similar events that were frustrating and chaotic). A minor critique though is that I wished that an English-Japanese translator assistant was present because communication with the artist was a little difficult. The establishment regularly includes limited-run exhibits of featured artists (some local and some from afar) as well as a shop section of primarily art books and prints. This place is definitely a must-visit if you're a collector of these items as the majority of them are not sold at major retailers. Check the business website as it's regularly updated with the constant flow of events held here. No-hassle free parking garage within close walking distance along Chapel Ave. read more

sztuka: świetna! obsługa: świetna! cena: trochę droga... książki: świetna. pamiątki: świetna! ludzie: dobrzy. toalety? nie! strój: swobodny. parking: czasami dobry. jedzenie? nie! zwierzęta? proszę nie! czy poszedłbyś tam jeszcze raz? tak! czy poleciłbyś: pewnie. :^D read more

I love Nucleus! It's so nice to have an art gallery in the 626 area. They always put on the best exhibitions and their store sells prints from amazing artists. Some of my personal favorite shows were Gravity Falls and Owl House related. They also sometimes host Q and As with artists and show creators. They always have art up and even if I don't know the artist, I love what they showcase. I'm also a frequent shopper and follower of some of their artists. Not only is this a great gallery but it's the perfect place to find a unique gift for someone! There are art prints, art books, kids' gifts, enamel pins, merch and more! I highly suggest checking them out. read more

this gallery has been a part of dt alhambra for a while now and continues to provide a space to get inspired and even meet renowned artists! the gallery is free to check out, and they carry a good collection of books and prints at the gift shop/front desk, where the staff is always friendly and welcoming. much of the art on display is available to purchase. especially love seeing the works of local artists/enthusiasts! read more

This review has been long overdue since I've been frequenting this place for more than a decade. I've always had a positive experience each time I've visited Nucleus as the workers are helpful and friendly while the art pieces they have on rotation are so beautiful. This is a small gallery that supports independent artists and their exhibits are usually (if not, always) free!! Once in awhile, they have book signings and panels for movies/shows. I also love taking a look at their book store as there's always something cool to check out there too. Oh, and if you check in with Yelp for the first time, you get a discount. A hidden gem in Alhambra that's worth the visit!! read more

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My wife and I went to the Disney 2D animation shop and it was awesome. Hopefully they more shops in future . The museum itself it's nice , lots of pop animation art . Really cool read more

I remember going to this gallery back when 6%DOKIDOKI had their event, years ago. It was a fun night with food trucks outside, a fashion show/dance, and many Harajuku street fashion enthusiasts dressed to the tee. I just recently went again earlier in the year when there was the Mirai movie exhibit with other works from Wolf Children/The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, etc. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed. Just recently I went to the Atlus: Persona & Catherine exhibit. I'm not a fan of the series but it was nice to see official artwork and some fan arts as well. The displays are nice and you have the opportunity to purchase some prints from the store area in the front. Just an FYI, keep track of their social media to know what events are going to go on because they have special guests, people cosplay or dress up, etc. These events can get sold out/capped/quite crowded. It's a nice place to drop by quickly and look around at the art for a bit when you're in the area. If there wasn't a game/anime related showing, I myself wouldn't go out of my way to go here. Taking a look at everything shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. FYI, 10% off any purchase with Yelp Check-In! read more

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If you're a fan of anime style art or hand drawn (+ digital) art, this is your place! They have a lovely rotating gallery area showcasing different artists, If you're a collector, there are plenty of prints and books and other paraphernalia available to purchase. I always visit for new wall art and unique gifts and never come away disappointed. read more

Whooooaaa this place is so cool! I think I've been here before but it for YEARS, so it was interesting to see how the space has evolved. Part of me has been really missing walking convention floors to look at art books and pins, stickers, records, etc, so this filled that niche really nicely. There's something really soothing about being able to pick through indie titles and follow favorite artists' work. I was here for a gallery event which was really nice, too! Great getting an opportunity to walk through the big open space and get close up and personal with the work that was on display. I was even able to secure a piece and they made the process of buying it really easy and kinda sweet - they let me put in the push pin for the piece I bought myself. All in all, I feel like I'm really excited to have an excuse to go back. Maybe for another show sometime soon? Definitely worth visiting and supporting! read more

Awesome place for prints! The staff was very helpful. The selection of artists to choose from is excellent and prices for all budgets.

Flashback Saturday: When I was a young yelp whippersnapper (4 years ago), Katie B. exposed this wonderful art venue to me and other old school yelpers with a yoga sesh. From that day on, I have periodically popped into the shop to see local artists' artworks. Yelp Check-in: 10% off purchase Cost: Free of charge! If you want to buy prints or books, it'll be out of your pocket. Events: You can check out their website: https://www.gallerynucleus.com/gallery/exhibitions to see what tickles your fancy. Ambiance/Venue Layout: Nice intimate art gallery with two levels ( FYI: The main exhibit is mostly in the ground floor) and a small gift shop in the front. Restrooms can be found on the second level. Art Gallery For Thought: Definitely a place to check out. read more

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Absolutely love this place. Appreciate all the amazing events they would host (precovid). Especially the pin expo! Right now they're doing appointment only for people interested in coming in due to COVID. But you get some serious VIP treatment if you book. I called day of and they were really nice about letting me come in that day. Great great items and amazing people. They bring an awesome community together. read more

This is one of the places that I've been meaning to check out for awhile. Ensconced in a hip section of Alhambra this place has been showcasing works from artists for years. I dropped by today to check it out and saw many things I liked. Other than original artwork and prints for sale they have quite a few artbooks as well. Not as many as a bookstore since it is more niche for featured artists ranging from illustrators to designers to comicbook artists and sometimes these artists are all the above. They are kind of pricey but some of these artbooks were signed by the artists. The art gallery was on display and I thought they were alright. The main theme was the Marvel Cinematic Universe and all of the work was of the commercial variety which was okay but didn't blow my mind. Either way I bought an artbook before I left. Got to support the artists! read more

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Besides downtown Alhambra being a food hub, it has this gem! This gallery has 2 floors; the first floor has an art store and has artwork for Persona 5 (Japanese game). The second floor is where the new art exhibit is. I happened to come across this gem one day with a friend. I came on a special day since it was the opening reception for MALL Solo exhibition. They were serving drinks and the artist was there interacting with guests. The artist, MALL, is very talented and I was fascinated by her work. Her work depicts a boy and his two favourite animals (cats and fish). The exhibit was really beautiful and if you wanted to purchase the artwork, they sell the original and the prints. Recommended to check this out if you are both an anime and art fan. It reminds me of the artist alley at Anime Expo since we get to see new artist we wouldn't see elsewhere. If you want more details about gallery, check their website. They have a list of upcoming exhibits that I would definitely come back to check out. read more

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I'll start this off by saying that the art space and merchandise available was very very good. Well worth it just to see all of that and buy some books and prints that can be hard to come by or aren't available anywhere else. My low score comes from a recent signing experience. I was at the first night of the spider-verse exhibit. I was excited because the flyers advertised a signing with artists from the movie in the first hour. I arrived and waited in line, eventually entered at around 6:45. Just in time to be part of the signing. Then I found out that the signing was limited to only the first 75 people. This represents a failure in properly communicating things to the attendees in their pre advertising because it was nowhere on any of their Instagram posts or flyers that saw that it would be limited in this way. It kind of ruined the entire experience for me. I'll probably come back at some point to properly enjoy the art, but for something that was touted as an *event* with a great perk in coming early only to get this outcome. (Pictures attached so you can see the messaging I saw and how the signing limitation wasn't properly communicated). read more

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Currently it is a Google Spotlight Stories event going on. It features the art with the theme of "making something emotional" through the power of today's mobile devices. So some of the stuff here are limited features. They feature rotating films and events throughout the calendar year so it's up to the individual that visits here to check what the latest thing is. It's a small refreshing concept and store that definitely deserves a visit! read more

Nucleus - Art Galleries Near Me - Alhambra, California

If you go to Anime Expo or Comic-Con, you may like this place - take away the crowd and long lines, and replace them with a relaxed environment where you can dive deep into mainstream, as well as emerging artists works at your own pace and Leisure. Great selections of pins, prints, and beautiful books!! No cos-players (not usually) here but often they have art exhibits in the gallery space behind the store. Definitely a one-of-a-kind and unique place; always a joy to visit. read more

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