It is tragically common that the truly talented leave us early. The beauty of creatives is that they leave artifacts; they leave their work to tell their story even after they are gone. Riverside lost Irvin Kyle "TOFU" Guzman, leaving a big hole in the art community. But he leaves us with a body of work that sparks true joy, from whimsical characters to his electric palette. There is an energy about his work that is generating power even after he is gone.
Artist Richie Velasquez reflects: "Irvin, to Riverside, was a pioneer not just as a gifted artist, but as a truly original individual and world-builder. He followed his own heart with his characters and his vision, never bending it to fit expectations. For Riverside, he played a huge role in showing other artists how to put their names out there and believe in their own paths. He was a deeply talented human being, and more than that, an amazing friend. He would remind us that everything was temporary and Everyday Ends…"
February's ArtsWalk, the first of 2026, honors TOFU's life through his art while celebrating the continued vitality of the creative community he helped build. As always, support the local artists and artisans lining Main Street with handcrafted work that makes downtown's pedestrian mall come alive.
February 2026 ArtsWalk, Downtown Thursday, Feb. 5, 6-9 p.m.
Live Music
The Noble Trip x The Good Daze Band
- Kicking off 2026 with fresh sounds
- Benjamin Franklin Stage, Ninth and Main St.
Main Street Vendors
- Local artisan booths along Main St.
- Handmade gifts, jewelry, art and crafts
- Visit Downtowne Bookstore, Urge Palette, and other Downtown galleries
Exhibits
Pain Sugar Gallery, 3635 9th Street
- TOFU Retrospective (6-9 p.m.)
- Celebrating the work of Irvin Kyle "TOFU" Guzman
Riverside Art Museum (RAM), 3425 Mission Inn Avenue
- Free admission during ArtsWalk (6-9 p.m.)
- "60 Miles East: Riverside's Underground Punk, Rock, Hardcore & Ska Scene (Late 1980s to Early 2000s)", ongoing exhibition
- Live performances during ArtsWalk:
- White Sands, Chris Vigil's psychedelic surf rock project from Albuquerque
- Spiderworks, Legendary Riverside band, rare performance
- Los Infernos, Legendary Riverside band, rare performance
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave.
- "Black and Brown in the Inland Empire and Beyond", ongoing exhibition
- "Cheech Collects IV", ongoing exhibition
- Upstairs galleries closed in preparation for "Chicano Camera Culture" opening February 7
RCAA Gallery, 3860 Lemon St.
- Black History Month Exhibition (6-9 p.m.)
- Opening reception celebrating Black artists and cultural heritage
Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California (CRIISC), 3933 Mission Inn Ave. Ste 102
- "The Legacy of Clarence Muse: Artifacts from the Collection of Dr. Norman Towels" (6-9 p.m.)
- Pop-up exhibition featuring the life of onscreen legend Clarence Muse, who acted in over 219 films and was a pillar of the Perris Valley community
- Materials from Dr. Norman Towels' collection of Black history in Inland Southern California
- Exhibition runs through March 13, 2026
Inlandia Institute at Riverside Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Ave. (Community Room)
- "Sinners in Discussion: How Black Storytelling Creates Culture" (6-8 p.m.)
- Panel discussion celebrating Black History Month in collaboration with Riverside Public Library and Blacklandia
- Interactive panel discussions and conversations exploring Black art and culture
Division 9 Gallery, 3461 9th Street
- "For the Love of the Game" (6-9 p.m.)
- Opening reception for black and white photography exhibition
- Depicting organized and unorganized competitive physical activities through the lens of California photographers
- Created by Carlos Puma and Cosme Cordova
- Exhibition runs through February 22, 2026
