Artist Spotlights
At the Social Cafe, we’re all about community! Which is why every month, we host a featured artist in residence! From painters and photographers to sculptors and mixed-media creators.
Each residency brings new energy, inspiration, and artwork to our café walls.
Artist in residence
Aurora Lucia-Levey
01/2026
Aurora Lucia-Levey is a multimedia artist based in Palm Springs, CA. Her art education began right away: born in Boston the early 80s, her parents co-owned (and lived at) Gallery East, a multifunctional DIY avant garde art space in Boston’s leather district. Since then, art and creativity have been woven throughout her life and work, no matter the medium.
Aurora studied Art History at CUNY Brooklyn College, alongside Documentary Film Production, which led to a decade-long career as a freelancer in Unscripted TV production. Through the years, she continued to create art for herself and her loved ones.
After moving to Palm Springs in 2020, Aurora, like many, found inspiration and connection in the desert. Immersing herself in the local art community, she has participated in the last two years’ Desert Open Studios, and shown her work at the Cathedral City Quarterly Art Exhibition, the Riviera Art Walk, and Dezrt Con. In November 2025, she participated in her first gallery show at Impell Gallery in The Lofts Art District in Downtown Palm Springs.
Upcoming exhibitions include Desert Open Studios 2026, where Aurora will be showing at The Ghost Gallery (by Planet Rooth Studios) on Perez Road in Cathedral City.
past residencies
Take a look back at the incredible artists who’ve shared their work and stories with our community.
Ramón Reyes
11/2025
Born in 1978 in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, Ramon Antonio Reyes discovered his passion for art at the age of eight while studying at the Fragachan Narciso School. Early on, he developed a deep appreciation for composition, quality, and passion. As a teenager, Reyes apprenticed under the renowned Venezuelan artist Ramon Antonio Morales, further solidifying his commitment to a career in fine art. He went on to earn a Master’s in Visual Arts from the Experimental University in Caracas, Venezuela.
In 2010, Reyes began traveling internationally to broaden his artistic vision. While in Brazil, he explored the expressive power of color. His European travels deepened his admiration for Pablo Picasso and marked the public debut of his “Horses” collection. Upon returning to the Americas, Reyes took a position as a Professor of Art at the University of Guadalajara, Tabasco, while refining his distinct approach to fine art.
Reyes has exhibited widely, including his “Angels” collection at the Brand New Orleans Art Gallery in 2018 and his 2019 “Architecture of the Body” series in Houston, Texas. In 2020, he debuted his “Gone Too Soon” collection, featuring figurative abstracts honoring global icons whose talents were tragically short-lived. He currently holds ongoing exhibitions in Palm Springs, California, where his work continues to captivate collectors and art enthusiasts.
Jon Gamel
Jon Gamél is an American contemporary artist based in Palm Springs, California, known for his vibrant fusion of pop art, realism, and surrealism. After a career in the tech industry, Gamél transitioned to art full-time in 2020, channeling personal loss and transformation into his creative practice. His work draws aesthetic inspiration from the Renaissance era, 60s pop culture, and modern design, using techniques that combine hyperreal painting with materials such as acrylic, oil, steel, wood, resin, and plexiglass.
Through his paintings, Gamél explores themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the search for meaning, often invoking bold color theory and innovative compositions. He opened his own gallery in Palm Springs, The Lofts Arts District, in August 2022, where his art is showcased and sold as original pieces and limited prints. Gamél is active on Instagram as @artdaddyjon, where he shares images of himself and his work, giving insights into his evolving artistic journey.
His creations are designed to evoke healing, hope, and connection, embracing art as a powerful form of communication that reflects the depths of his experiences and humanity.
Marconi Calindas
Marconi Calindas is a Filipino-American visual artist known for his signature style that blends black lines with bold, pure hues, reflecting both pop culture and human rights themes. Born and raised in the Philippines, Marconi began his career as a journalist before dedicating himself to art after moving to the Northern Mariana Islands and later San Francisco. His works champion love, equality, and acceptance, often tackling socially relevant issues, especially those affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
Calindas’s art has been exhibited at venues such as San Francisco City Hall, SoMARTS Gallery, and the Palm Springs Cultural Center, and has received awards like the grand prize for the New Era Introducing Global Creative Project North America. As a muralist and mixed-media artist, his portfolio spans paintings, apparel, and public installations designed to spark dialogue and inspire inclusivity.
For visual references, Marconi shares his newest pieces and project updates on his Instagram (@marconicalindas), featuring portraits and photos of his vibrant art series. His body of work is recognized for advocating diversity, celebrating resilience, and leaving a legacy of compassion and inclusion.