A Homecoming: Kristofferson San Pablo Brings "For All the Ghosts" to Downtown

Stepping inside the UCR ARTS' Culver Center of the Arts building, visitors are met with walls covered in Kristofferson San Pablo's detailed drawings. Up close, bold outlines and comprehensive hues reveal a distorted reality. For the Inland Empire-raised artist, the exhibition represents more than a display of recent work; it is, in a grander sense, a homecoming.

Born in the Philippines and now based in Los Angeles, San Pablo is a Filipino-American artist who dedicates his work towards themes of duality, identity, and memory. A graduate of ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, his drawings often reflect his multifaceted experience of Southern California. From autobiographical elements to pop culture, San Pablo uses his work to bridge his personal journey with the shared stories of the community he observes.

Currently, his work is on display at the UCR ARTS' Culver Center of the Arts. Titled "For All the Ghosts," the exhibition spans from November 2025 to April 12, 2026.

The exhibit showcases a variety of artwork drawn by San Pablo. For example, a recurring theme that stands out throughout the exhibition is nude figures rendered in a bare, almost vulnerable depiction. Rather than sexualizing the body, the drawings present it plainly. Stripped of context, the figures pose in ways that suggest uncomfortable exposure rather than the modern-day pageant.

Alongside these intimate portrayals are repeated references to pop culture, most notably characters from The Simpsons. Popular symbols of the classic American suburbia, the inclusion of Bart and Homer Simpson not only depicts the trademarks of Southern California's cultural landscape, but also perhaps offers a glimpse to his personal history and childhood.

Beyond the art work, the UCR ARTS exhibition carries particular significance for an artist raised in the Inland Empire. Oftentimes, many artists leave the region in hopes of pursuing bigger opportunities. However, in San Pablo's case, his return brings back the work that embodies the very community that inspired it.

By hosting "For All the Ghosts," UCR ARTS expands its effort to bring attention to regional artists whose work reflects the unique landscape of Southern California. Through this, the institution hopes to continuously reinforce the importance of providing platforms for artists who dedicate their work to the communities of the Inland Empire.

In bringing his work back to the Inland Empire, San Pablo is able to revisit the landscape that molded him into the artist he is today. More importantly, though, it shines light on the possibility of what stories from our region look like when given the chance to be seen.

More Information: "For All the Ghosts" by Kristofferson San Pablo is on display at the Culver Center of the Arts, 3834 Main St., Riverside, through April 12, 2026. For more information, visit ucrarts.ucr.edu.

By Erik Chen