Orange Community Arts Guild Presents '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry'

Exhibit at Saddleback College and Pop-Up Exhibition in Placentia highlight Black artists in Orange County

Published on Feb. 1, 2026

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The Orange County Community Arts Guild (OCAG) is presenting a compelling exhibition titled '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry' at Saddleback College, featuring the work of Black artists in Orange County, where Black residents make up just 2% of the population. The exhibition will run from February 4 to May 11 and includes photography, painting, and mixed media works exploring themes of identity, history, and lived experiences. OCAG will also host a one-day pop-up exhibition of the same name on February 27 in Placentia.

Why it matters

The exhibition aims to uplift the voices, stories, and creative excellence of Black artists in Orange County, providing a platform for representation and celebrating the power of art to engage, reflect, and build community. With Black residents making up a small percentage of the local population, the exhibition serves as an important opportunity to highlight the diverse perspectives and contributions of this underrepresented group.

The details

The '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry' exhibition at Saddleback College will feature work by six local Black artists: Britt Samuels, Larissa Brown, Kaleeka Bond Quayle, Sola Saar, Kobina Wright, and Eesuu Orundida. The exhibition, curated by Samuels and Brown, will explore themes of identity, history, and contemporary Black life in Orange County through a variety of mediums. An opening reception on February 6 will allow the public to meet the artists and experience the exhibition firsthand.

  • The exhibition will be on view from February 4 through May 11, 2026 at the Saddleback College Learning Resource Library (3rd Floor).
  • The opening reception for the exhibition will take place on February 6, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
  • The one-day Pop-Up Exhibition titled '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry' will be held on February 27, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm at FIT Planning Group in Placentia.

The players

Orange County Community Arts Guild (OCAG)

A welcoming 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Orange, California, dedicated to uplifting the community through the power of art.

Britt Samuels

Founder of the Orange County Community Arts Guild and curator of the '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry' exhibition.

Larissa Brown

Member of the OCAG Board of Directors and co-curator of the '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry' exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“Two percent is a statistic. What you see here is a legacy.”

— Britt Samuels, Founder, Orange County Community Arts Guild (Fullerton Observer)

What’s next

The opening reception for the '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry' exhibition at Saddleback College will take place on February 6, 2026, providing the public with an opportunity to meet the featured artists and experience the exhibition firsthand.

The takeaway

The '2%: A Celebration of Black Artistry' exhibition serves as an important platform to uplift the voices, stories, and creative excellence of Black artists in Orange County, where they make up a small percentage of the local population. By providing this representation and celebrating the power of art to engage, reflect, and build community, the exhibition aims to challenge the underrepresentation of Black artists and foster a more inclusive and vibrant arts culture in the region.