'Anti-art gallery' Environment closes after city says events have grown too large

Environment, a gallery located in Alamitos Beach that platforms local artists, has closed. Founder Samuel "NA$A” Wright posted a statement on July 9 on the gallery's Instagram account announcing the closure.

"The city said the events had grown too large for the residential neighborhood we border therefore our building owner won’t let us host events any longer," Wright said in the announcement.

The Department of Financial Management, which deals with business closures and business licensing, did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

Wright, a Long Beach resident and artist, opened the gallery in November 2023. His mission was to create a space for the community that gave local artists a chance to showcase their work without the excessive fees many galleries require.

While some galleries can require artists to pay to display their work, Wright wanted a space that could accommodate artists who are just starting out and may be struggling financially. In addition to displaying the art for sale in the gallery, Environment hosted weekly and monthly events including live shows, adult crafts night, art installations, film screenings and more.

But despite the closure of the physical space, "the true essence of our mission transcends any four walls," Wright wrote in the statement.

Being an artist himself has lead Wright to a network of creators that uplift and support one another. It began during the pandemic when he showcased his work at open-air pop-ups. Now, he plans to focus on his own cut and sew art and will continue bringing people together through community events.

"I will be realigning and working on my own art that I have been neglecting and finding homes for our events to continue momentum and expand through collaboration," Wright told the Watchdog.

Follow Environment on Instagram to stay up to date with future plans.