From Milwaukee to Downtown Los Angeles, Diana Barillas has built her life around one unshakable truth — that art, at its core, is about connection. Her story is one of reinvention, resilience, and a lifelong passion that eventually became a movement.
Diana’s love for art began in childhood, though she never imagined it could become her career. She went on to college as a journalism major with an art minor, balancing practicality with passion.
After graduating, she moved to San Francisco and pursued a career as a makeup artist — “it was my way of being an artist, but still having a business in it,” she says.
For fifteen years, she managed multiple beauty brands, mastering the delicate balance between creativity and operations. Yet something inside her remained unfinished. “Art was something that was still a part of me,” she recalls. As her time in San Francisco came to a close, she felt a pull she could no longer ignore — it was time to go all in.
In 2020, amid the uncertainty of a global shutdown, Diana made her boldest move yet: she relocated to Los Angeles with one clear goal — to devote herself entirely to art.
“I thought I was just going to have my own little art gallery,” she says, “but one thing was clear — I’m moving there to 100% do this.” Even as the world stood still, Diana felt an opening. “Everyone was starting new,” she explains. “It was my chance to follow my passion in art.”
Los Angeles called to her not just for its opportunities, but for its inclusivity. San Francisco’s art scene, while vibrant, felt closed off. LA was different — alive with collaboration and possibility.
“Everyone was willing to help, because they’re all trying to do what they’re really passionate about,” she says. “I wanna be in that environment where everyone is secretly creative, and trying to figure out how to get there by helping each other out.”
Diana’s LA journey began as a volunteer curator at a small gallery on 15th and Los Angeles Street — Around that time, there was talk of reviving Art Night — a citywide event that had gone quiet during the pandemic.
“I actually started off as a volunteer,” she recalls. “I hit the ground running and started taking on more and more responsibility.”
Her leadership, consistency, and community-first mindset quickly transformed her role. What began as volunteering evolved into full-scale direction. Today, Diana serves as the Director of DTLA Art Night, overseeing its growth from a handful of locations to one of Downtown’s most celebrated creative movements.
“Seeing it grow under my direction has been incredible,” she says. When she first joined, Art Night had fewer than ten participating venues. Today, DTLA Art Night spans over fifty galleries and locations, with sponsors including Adidas — and new partners joining every month. “It’s been beautiful to see it grow.”
Diana runs DTLA Art Night like a business, but she leads it with heart. Her background in management gives her the precision to handle logistics, while her artistic sensibility keeps her rooted in empathy.
“We’re here for the artists — to make downtown grow, to have a fun and free event,” she says. Even on quieter nights, she focuses on impact over numbers: “The people that show up really care about the art.”
Her dedication has created opportunities for countless emerging artists. “I’m a big advocate for artists,” Diana says proudly. “I will always champion for my artists, and seeing them grow has been such a beautiful thing. Being able to foster that community has been really rewarding.”
At the heart of everything Diana does is her devotion to community. “I come from a sense of community and a want to build community,” she shares. Her success stems from her rare ability to bridge the worlds of business and creativity — guiding artists while running large-scale operations with grace.
Despite the growth of DTLA Art Night, her team remains small, and Diana wears many hats. She plans, organizes, communicates with artists, and coordinates with galleries and sponsors. Through it all, she remains patient and grounded — a quality everyone who works with her recognizes and admires.
When asked what she hopes visitors take away from their first Art Night experience, her answer is simple yet profound:
“Inspired, connection, a sense of community. I hope they find peace that really inspires them. And I hope that they find that there’s beauty here in Downtown.”
Community, for Diana, is more than a concept — it’s a lifeline. “It’s really easy to feel swallowed up in this world and feel overwhelmed and to feel alone,” she admits. “Knowing that there are other people I can count on — and they can count on me — keeps me grounded and gives me a reason to keep going.”
From fewer than ten galleries to over fifty, DTLA Art Night has blossomed into a cultural force — and it all began with the Emerging Artist Gallery that still serves as its heartbeat and home.
As 2025 comes to a close, the year still holds events like Día de los Muertos and the recurring First Thursday Art Nights — but those are just the final chapters in an already transformative year. With expansion on the horizon and more galleries joining each month, Diana’s next challenge is ensuring that the event’s soul — that sense of intimacy and belonging — remains intact as it continues to grow.
One thing is certain: Diana Barillas will never stop building spaces where art and people meet. Every event, every artist, every night is another step toward the dream she moved to LA to chase — and another bridge built for those who come after her.
