The City of Chula Vista is proud to announce the opening of Casa Casillas, a new public cultural arts center and the city’s first-ever Artist-in-Residence Program, a pilot initiative designed to foster artistic innovation, education and community engagement.

Casa Casillas honors Paula Casillas, a lifelong Chula Vista resident, former Rohr employee, and mother of former Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. Inspired by art classes she once took at a city recreation center, Casillas developed a passion for art that led to a prolific body of work. The grand opening will feature an exhibit showcasing her paintings and sculptures.

The Artist-in-Residence Program will run from July through December 2025, supporting two local visual artists by providing a monthly stipend, studio space, and an opportunity to exhibit their work at Casa Casillas. The first artists selected are Melissa “Melicha” Salgado, a Chula Vista native whose oil and acrylic pieces explore identity and nostalgia through surrealistic symbolism, and German Rojas, a San Diego-based artist whose vibrant, sustainability-inspired works celebrate cycles of renewal and community.

The exhibit will also feature the work of Nade Urquieta, a Mexican borderland artist with over 28 years of experience in the art world. Her work is characterized by the use of vibrant colors, rich textures, and mixed techniques, with oil and acrylic as the central mediums.

The creation of Casa Casillas fulfills a key goal of Chula Vista’s 2016 Cultural Arts Master Plan, transforming the former YMCA building into the first dedicated arts center in the South Bay. The revitalized space includes a gallery, artist studios, and gathering areas designed to connect the community through creativity.

Casa Casillas will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 12-7 pm; Friday and Saturday from 10-5 pm; Sunday from 1-5. 

For more information about Casa Casillas or the Artist-in-Residence Program, visit Casa Casillas.