OUR STORY: THE RAGTAG ROOTS
We started RagTag Art Haus as a response to the exclusionary walls of traditional art spaces. In DTLA, where the energy is raw and the community is loud, we saw a need for a place that didn't just host art—it demanded it. We believe that joy is political and creativity is survival. Our mission is to provide a space where misfits, organizers, and caregivers can find their voice without permission.
From our first zine to our latest gallery, we have been building a community that values authenticity over approval. We are not a gallery; we are a collective. We are the space where everybody belongs, and where the art is never just a show—it's a movement.
Our Mission & Values
The Heart of Our Work
We are a community art space dedicated to radical inclusion. We believe that art is a fundamental act of resistance and survival, and we provide a raw, unfiltered environment where every voice, every story, and every misfit is welcome.
Our Core Values
Radical Inclusion
We reject the gatekeeping of traditional institutions. We are a space for the overlooked, the organizers, and the caregivers.
Political Joy
We believe that joy is a form of resistance. We create spaces where laughter and art are tools for social change.
Collective Survival
We prioritize mutual aid and community over individual success. Creativity is not just an individual act, but a shared survival.
THE HANDS BEHIND THE HAUS
ELARA VANCE
Founding Director & Community Organizer
KAI RODRIGUEZ
Curatorial Lead & Visual Artist
JORDAN REED
Program Coordinator & Workshop Facilitator
SARAH CHEN
Operations Manager & Mutual Aid Lead