Enter the House of Danger, an exciting art business, breathing new life into a corner of Costa Mesa
For roughly 30 years, a skate shop and a music school have existed on the second floor of an inconspicuous building tucked away on Newport Boulevard.
Photos courtesy of House of Danger
Jackie Danger, artist and founder of House of Danger
On the first floor, a shop of collectibles and treasures, and a private photo studio, sat next to an old and shuttered electronic repair shop, until last year.
The story behind the House of Danger is one of an artist looking for a studio, and a venue to teach art classes. Jackie Danger, the artist and founder of the gallery, is best known for her colorful and edgy work, which has been embraced and featured over the last 15 years by brands and music festivals in the Skate, Surf and Punk Rock genres. While Danger is a 15-year resident of Costa Mesa, her journey here began as a skateboarder and artist in Portland, Ore., painting on broken skateboards. From humble beginnings, her work can be found internationally. From murals to art classes, abstract to illustrative to Impressionism, she has a distinct style within each expression, and an eye for style as well.
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Artwork by Ben Brough
She found the unassuming retail space in the summer of 2025, and has quickly transformed it into a thriving gallery, as well as a place for the Orange County community to attend art classes.
With her background as a board-sports athlete, as well as an art teacher and aerosol muralist, she found she was uniquely set up to build a space to serve as a cultural anchor in the action sports community. Costa Mesa has a long history of being a hub for action sports brands, and the creatives and athletes who embody this culture. In recent years it has seen a decline in the special places that allowed this creativity, and the locals have felt this loss distinctly.
With a knack for brand strategy, Danger loves building a community and creating things that inspire conversation and depth.
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Ben Brough’s work is highly collected within the surf community
Now, Costa Mesa has a flagship space for these athletes and creatives whom Danger has selected to showcase as, as she said, “an art house.”
Her mission is to keep the special creative vibe of Costa Mesa alive. This is the House of Danger.
Danger’s commitment to the success of her gallery, artists and Costa Mesa is evidenced by the show that just closed on August 28 at the House of Danger, featuring Costa Mesa resident and artist Ben Brough, in his solo exhibition titled Good Manners Don’t Cost a Thing.
Brough’s work is highly collected within the surf community as his style has a nod towards Picasso’s form of expression but with Brough’s inspiration and storyline.
Her gallery is regularly open Tuesday-Thursday 3-7 p.m. and open most evenings as she works in her studio space in the back.
Viewings are also available by appointment by calling 706.709.1023.
House of Danger is located at 2580 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.
