Art, film, business and tribal roots are woven into the life of Ruth-Ann Thorn.
She has spent roughly 30 years in art gallery spaces as an art curator, dealer and owner, highlighting artists from around the world.
At one point, her business, Exclusive Collections Gallery, had seven locations across San Diego County, Orange County, Las Vegas and Colorado, Thorn said. Now she has scaled it back to one location in downtown San Diego to have more time to spend with her father at the Rincon Band of Luiseño Mission Indians reservation, also known as the indigenous name, the Payómkawichum, Thorn said, where she is an enrolled member.
Thorn also owns Native Star, a luxury boutique shop next to Exclusive Collections Gallery. She said she is the first Native American to establish a shop that sells handmade Native American goods from all over the U.S. in the Gaslamp Quarter.
“It’s truly a cultural experience along with a great place to buy gifts and fashion,” Thorn said. “I’m dedicated to preserving our cultural heritage while pushing the boundaries of creativity and community empowerment.”
She also recently ventured into skincare products with her brand called N8iV Beauty, which harnesses traditional acorn oil, she said.
“A really important part of our culture is taking care of our bodies,” Thorn added.
Aside from her businesses, Thorn is a documentary filmmaker. Five years ago, she created “Art of the City,” a 13-episode documentary series where Thorn traveled around the U.S. to feature artists who uplift their communities through art.
Thorn also just launched a new docu-series titled, “This is Indian Country.” Thorn said it highlights the modern Native people’s experience in states such as Washington, Oregon, California and Minnesota and shows the diverse stories and lives they live. People interviewed include artists, musicians, architects, waterkeepers, landkeepers, politicians, comedians and chiefs.
“The stories are different because the terrain is different and the way that people did things traditionally, but then you’re meeting all these people that are the remnants of Native people,” Thorn said. “We are all descendants from the original people, as our great-grandparents, and so you get to hear all of the stories and then see the things that people are doing now.”
For this series, Thorn chose to highlight places in and around downtown San Diego because it holds a special place in her heart.
“The rich history of this area, established in the mid-1800s, makes it a pivotal part of San Diego’s story: one that resonates deeply with me as a member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Mission Indians,” she said. “While the Gaslamp’s history is marked by the challenging times we Native Americans faced during the transition onto reservations, it also offers a unique opportunity for cultural sharing.”
Ruth-Ann Thorn is a business owner, documentary filmmaker and enrolled member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Mission Indians. (Laura Bravo Mertz / Solifoto)
Q: Where is your favorite dining option?
A: Meze Greek Fusion. They are always open, and the food is incredible. Everyone is super friendly, and they have really unique drinks there. What I love about their food is that it’s like a cultural fusion. It’s Greek, but it’s kind of Greek on a different level. I like getting the hummus platter, and I usually get like the saganaki, which is like a fried cheese, which they light it on fire at your table. It’s probably the worst thing you could eat, but it’s so delicious.
Q: What is your favorite small retail business or pop-up vendor to support?
A: Nikki & Co. I love this jewelry store, which is right on Fifth Avenue and Market Street. The guy who runs it, his name is Moe. He’s just like the best jeweler in town. He’s super honest. You can get things repaired there or if you need, he has vintage and modern jewelry and watches for sale too.
Q: Where is your favorite open space?
A: There is a really cute park across the street from The New Children’s Museum. It’s a great place to take kids and when my daughter was little, we spent a lot of time there. The playground items there are very artistic. They’re always adding things that are fun: It’s not just like your regular playground with swings. They have all of these things that kids can play on that are like playing on art, and I think that’s what I have always loved about it. It’s different and fun.
Q: Where is the best piece of artwork?
A: There is an amazing sculpture on Broadway and Harbor Drive. It’s a figurative sculpture that has a lot of letters cut out, and at night, when it shines through, it casts a shadow. It’s a sight to be seen! I’m not sure who the artist is, but I really like it.
18-month-old Rivan Conner of Los Angeles looked through the giant kaleidoscope exhibit at the Museum of Illusions in downtown San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Guest looked over some of the many exhibits on display at the Museum of Illusions in downtown San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Hanging on the wall at the Museum of Illusions in downtown San Diego is one large artwork containing a random series of small photos of numbers. However, when you step back, a portrait of a familiar face appears. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Walking through the Vortex Tunnel at the Museum of Illusions in San Diego, Mariah McIntosh quickly found herself needing to hang on to the handrails to complete the walk. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Alyssa McIntosh of Los Angeles gives the illusion as if she is climbing from ground level to the upper balcony. McIntosh was one of the guests participating in several interactive illusion rooms at the Museum of Illusions, located downtown in San Diego, CA, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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18-month-old Rivan Conner of Los Angeles looked through the giant kaleidoscope exhibit at the Museum of Illusions in downtown San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Q: Where is your favorite entertainment attraction or historic landmark?
A: The Museum of Illusion is a great place to spend time with your kids exploring the way the mind looks at things. It’s also a great place to take a ton of selfies! It’s new, located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and G Street.
Originally Published: October 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM PDT