The Dark Art Emporium Resurrects in a New Space in Downtown Long Beach

The Dark Art Emporium in downtown Long Beach

When you’re looking to take in macabre works of art in Long Beach, CA, you head to The Dark Art Emporium, otherwise simply known as DAE. The gallery has been injecting the city with doses of weirdness since 2016, hosting darkly eclectic art exhibits and showcasing a variety of oddities. I’ve attended many of their events over the years and it’s definitely one of my favorite spots in the LBC.

DAE is owned and operated by Jeremy Schott and Jeremy Cross with Lauren Martin assuming the role of gallery director. It recently underwent a major transformation and has moved into an entirely new space. Formerly located inside the bowels of the horror-inspired pizzeria The 4^th Horseman, it’s now set up shop in the East Village Arts District in downtown Long Beach. While the spot they inhabited inside the spooky pizza joint was really neat, they weren’t as visible to the public. Now, they’re out in the open once again, poised to be a beacon of the bizarre in the community.

The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium

This isn’t the first time The Dark Art Emporium has relocated. The establishment has always remained in Long Beach, but this move marks its fourth iteration. The new spot is simultaneously intimate and spacious. You can’t miss the large, purple DAE sign at the entrance with a glass display case featuring taxidermy, skulls and creepy art prints underneath it. The interior is painted in—what I’ve come to know as—the gallery’s signature color, black. Spotlights are positioned all around to illuminate the numerous pieces that decorate the walls.

DAE specializes in highlighting work within the low brow and dark art realms. That, in and of itself, encompasses a broad range of styles, including surrealism, new contemporary art, and much more. Over the years, they’ve hosted solo and group art exhibitions featuring artists such as Meimaro, Vincent Castiglia, David Van Gough, Karikatura, Rachael Bridge and many other talented creatives. I cannot wait to see what upcoming art shows they have planned for their new location.

The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium
The Dark Art Emporium

In addition to selling original art pieces and art prints, they also have an array of occult books, taxidermy, dark art t-shirts and morbid treasures for people to peruse. When I attended their grand reopening, they had artist Scum Choir doing live grotesque portraits and Que Sera Designs vending a charming selection of custom jewelry. Of course, I couldn’t walk out empty handed, so I snagged a print of Dienzo’s “Eternal Peace” and a La Catrina necklace from Que Sera Designs.

“Eternal Peace” art print by Dienzo
Vamp Jenn at DAE
La Catrina Necklace by Que Sera Designs
Scum Choir & Que Sera Designs at DAE

An added bonus is the gallery is situated amidst a wide range of restaurants, bars and shops, so you can spend a few hours exploring the area. And word on the block is their former home, The 4^th Horseman, will be revamping its space and expanding! Lots of diabolical goodness brewing in Long Beach.

The Dark Art Emporium is open for business from Wednesday through Sunday. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to pay a visit and follow them on social media to find out when they’re hosting events.