[2] He is considered one of the pioneer artists of California,[3] and his work was popular in San Francisco, where he came to live in 1857.

Contemporary critics especially praised Arriola’s paintings depicting moonlight and tropical scenes.

The artist exhibited his work at the Mechanics' Institute Fairs in 1864 and 1865, as well as the National Academy of Design in 1872.

[2][17] His work, "Moonlit River Gorge" sold at Bonhams Los Angeles in 2014 for $27,500 USD.

[19] In 2017–2018, his work was part of the group exhibition "California Mexicana: Missions to Murals, 1820–1930," at the Laguna Art Museum, curated by Katherine Manthorne and Alberto Nulman Magidin.