The Gallery
Art makes us humanBenjals Gallery celebrates artists, makers, and craftspeople whose work invites us to slow down and reconnect with beauty
Photography by Austin Mendoza
There is something grounding about looking up.
Austin Mendoza's work captures California not as a destination, but as a place to slow down long enough to notice. Towering palms, quiet coastlines, desert landscapes, and open skies become reminders that beauty has always been here—we simply have to make time to see it.
Raised in San Diego, Austin developed a deep appreciation for the natural world that now shapes every photograph he creates. His work is an invitation to reconnect with the landscapes that surround us and to protect them for generations to come.
At Benjals, we believe slowing down begins with paying attention. Austin's photography reflects that philosophy perfectly.
Our July 2026 collection serves as a reminder that sometimes balance is found by looking up, stepping outside, and remembering we're part of something much bigger than ourselves.
About the Artist
Austin Mendoza is the photographer behind Achromatic Planet, a California-based photography project celebrating the landscapes, coastlines, deserts, and forests that shaped his upbringing.
His work explores the relationship between nature and perspective, encouraging viewers to appreciate—and ultimately protect—the places we call home.
"I hope to inspire people to preserve and protect our shared environment for current and future generations, so that everyone can enjoy its splendor as I have." — Austin Mendoza
Gracia Navarro is a San Diego-based artist whose work blends impressionistic realism with emotional storytelling, often inspired by coastlines, light, stillness, and the natural world around her.
We found Gracia’s work at the Coronado Art & Wine festival, & it immediately felt like Silver Strand. Warm sunsets, quiet reflection, marine layers, softness, nostalgia; the exact feeling this collection was built around.
The painting she created for Silver Strand became the emotional center of the collection. A reminder to slow down long enough to actually feel your life. To sit by the water a little longer. To notice the light. To romanticize the ordinary.
As a self-taught artist, Gracia creates work that feels deeply human and calming, balancing color, texture, and emotion in a way that pulls you in quietly rather than demanding attention. Her pieces have been featured throughout San Diego and collected internationally across the United States and the Philippines.
Collaborating with Gracia felt deeply aligned with the world we’re building at Benjals — thoughtful, emotional, artful living rooted in beauty, atmosphere, and presence.
original artwork by Gracia Navarro ( https://gracianavarroart.com/ )
this captures the essence of our Silver Strand Collection. slow down long enough to feel your life before it passes by
inspired by our Silver Strand painting by Gracia Navarro
We chose Annsley’s pieces because they feel like something you keep for a long time. All made by hand, with intention, and without excess.
We’re drawn to simplicity, nothing forced. Just thoughtful pieces that feel good to live with. Every piece is made by Annsley using full grain leather and traditional techniques that prioritize quality and longevity over excess. These bags are designed to soften and age beautifully, becoming more personal with every trip.
In a world of fast fashion and constant consumption, we’re choosing pieces that invite us to slow down.
Fun fact: her market tote was the very first piece ever in the Benjals market. A must have in our opinion.
A simple carryall that moves with you; open, airy, and quietly structured.
Holds your flowers, books, fresh produce, and olives for your martini later
Handcrafted by Annsley Edwards of Anney Life Designs, the Penny is a timeless leather bucket bag designed to move effortlessly through life.
Made by hand from rich saddle-toned leather and finished with brass hardware, it’s classic drawstring silhouette balances practicality with elegance.
Built to last, the Penny reflects our belief that the best pieces are not trend-driven, they are lived with, well loved, and carried for years.
Details:
Handmade by Annsley Edwards (Anney Life Designs)
Leather construction
Brass hardware
Drawstring bucket silhouette
Designed to age beautifully
Crafted by hand from genuine hair-on-hide leather, The Palomino is a one-of-a-kind piece inspired by windswept coastlines, weathered fences, and the quiet beauty of living with less.
Its minimalist silhouette, brass hardware, and adjustable leather strap make it an effortless everyday companion—equally at home at the farmers market, a coastal dinner, or a weekend spent wandering.
Each bag is handmade by Annsley Edwards of Anney Life Designs, ensuring no two are exactly alike.
Available now: one ready-to-ship piece.
Additional bags are handmade to order. (ships in 2 weeks)
Details
Handmade by Annsley Edwards, Anney Life Designs
Genuine hair-on-hide leather
Adjustable leather crossbody strap
Brass hardware
One-of-a-kind hide pattern
Made slowly in small batches
Without a formal painting education, after raising three boys, and a career in graphic design, Kelly wanted a more creative outlet.
She pulls inspiration from the Beach and the gorgeous sunsets in San Diego. Her approach is unique and took years to develop, using thick oil paint with a lot of texture.
“I think about the beautiful world that God is created for us to enjoy and strive to relay that in my paintings hopefully evoking a warm peaceful feeling.” - Kelly Villasenor
We actually were drawn to Kelly’s art at a Coronado festival, spotted across the sea of people, we fought the crowd and made our way over to admire. It’s truly stunning and emotion provoking.
Kelly’s story resonates deeply with us, Benjals exists to honor slow living and creative outlets in order to improve our quality of life, and then sometimes - you discover a new purpose and passion along the way. All paintings linked should you feel called to one.
Minga is a word in the Andes.
It describes something simple, but increasingly rare: people coming together to build something that matters. Not individually, but collectively.
That idea is what drew us to Minga.
Founded by Emily Rathmanner between San Diego and Ecuador, Minga began by living alongside a small group of women artisans in the Andean highlands. Not sourcing from them; learning with them. Understanding the materials, the pace, the intention behind the craft. That relationship still defines everything they create.
Their pieces are made by hand using raw, natural materials - cabuya, paja toquilla, vegetable-tanned leather, natural dyes. Fibers that come from the land and return to it.
We chose Minga because they don’t separate product from people. Or process from outcome. Their work reflects a different way of building; one that values conversation, community, and continuity over speed.
made by MINGA’s infamous alpaca sweater
can attest, this is the best sweater we’ve ever had - (M/L)
Crotcheted by MINGA. Lightweight, timeless, and made for everyday wandering.
Made by MINGA market bag, this is a hand-woven farmers (or beach) market masterpiece
Made by MINGA, crotchet by hand it’s perfect for beach walks and throwing on without thinking. Easy, nostalgic, and sun-faded
ArtWheelSD is a ceramic studio in Imperial Beach, California, founded by Jeff Kirkeeng. ( https://artwheelshop.com/ )
For over 14 years, Jeff has been working and teaching; first from his home studio, and now from a space on the Imperial Beach pier. The studio reflects his background in Comparative Literature and East Asian Studies, shaped by time spent studying throughout China and East Asia. It’s felt more than stated, in the pacing, the restraint, the way the space is meant to be experienced.
His work centers around wheel throwing, with an emphasis on process over outcome. Classes are grounded and unhurried, focused on returning to the hands and the rhythm of making.
Jeff is also trained in fascial movement, work that, similar to yoga, helps release body tension and restore fluid movement. That awareness carries into the way he teaches: attentive, intuitive, and rooted in how the body moves through the process.
Alongside ceramics, the studio offers a small selection of loose leaf teas sourced from Asia, along with books on art and literature.
Originally featured at San Diego International Airport, this monumental mixed-media relief by Jeff Kirkeeng blends myth, folklore, and architectural storytelling into a museum-scale statement piece. Rich with Asian-inspired influences, the work combines intricate carvings, cryptic text, gilded detailing, and symbolic figures across an expansive multi-panel composition.
Its layered patinas, earthen tones, and sculptural depth create an aged, almost archaeological presence; as though the piece were uncovered rather than made. Simultaneously spiritual, haunting, and deeply human, the work rewards prolonged viewing with hidden symbols, narrative fragments, and extraordinary craftsmanship throughout.
More than wall art, this piece functions as an immersive focal point - commanding space with the presence of a collected artifact or contemporary shrine.
-Offered through private acquisition. Please inquire for details-
Original mixed media piece by Jeff, featured first in the San Diego Airport, now available for purchase through private inquiry.
Created by oncology nurse Tori Petersen, Luxe Lund began as a creative outlet, something that brought relief, balance, and a moment to slow down
What started as beading has grown into a jewelry line rooted in intention, where each piece is designed to feel effortless and easy to wear, every day
Made with gold, pearls, and tarnish-free materials, these are pieces meant to last as long as the memories they hold
Built with the support of her community, Luxe Lund is a reflection of creativity, care, and the kind of work that happens slowly and with purpose
Annsley’s luxury line, more refined with the same intention. Each piece designed and made by hand, with a focus both on form and function.
These feel timeless, not trendy. Just really well-made bags you reach for every day.
If you make something thoughtfully, we’d love to see it. We’re drawn to pieces that feel intentional, lived-in, and made with care. This space is for artists, makers, and brands we believe in.