Is there anything that California doesn’t have to offer? From major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego—each with their own distinct personality—to the laid back life on the coast, the otherworldly beauty of desert, the majestic Redwoods, wine country and so much more, the Golden State, in all its diverse splendor, is impossible to quantify. But it’s safe to say that the state’s natural beauty and cultural offerings are unparalleled.
One of San Francisco’s famous cable cars scales Hyde Street. Artists follow beauty and light, and with nine national parks—more than any other state—along with its reputation for progressive values and supporting freedom of expression, it’s no surprise that California is one of the world’s foremost destinations for arts and culture.
The most concentrated art hubs can be found in the state’s major cities. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is 1,000 acres of greenspace home to cultural institutions like the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Tea Garden.
Downtown Palm Springs. You will find equally robust art offerings in Southern California from Los Angeles’ new Academy of Motion Pictures Museum to the Getty Center, an architectural wonder housing art from the Middle Ages to today in a stunning setting. Head inland from L.A. and you’ll soon be in Palm Springs, where the desert’s austere lines informed the city’s quintessential mid-century modern aesthetic—which is celebrated in February during Modernism Week, an 11-day festival featuring more than 350 events, including home tours, parties, art shows and so much more.
On your way down to San Diego, where you could happily lose yourself for weeks in Balboa Park’s 17 museums and cultural institutions, be sure to stop in Laguna Beach, the heart of California’s thriving plein air community.
Photo courtesy Visit CaliforniaCalifornia is also home to some of the best contemporary art fairs in the country. In February, don’t miss Intersect Palm Springs from February 8 through the 11th and the LA Art Show from February 15 through 18—American Art Collector will be at the epic event in full force!
With more than 1,000 museums across the state and countless galleries, arts districts and events, the options might be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide, which highlights a selection of our favorite galleries, artists, events and organizations around the state to make it easier for you to plan your California arts adventure. Better yet, we also asked the locals what else they recommend for you to do to further enhance your experience! Read on to learn more.
Travel like a local
Fresno
Brian and Kristen Boroski, owners of A Sense of Place Gallery, are passionate about art and life, and have plenty of recommendations for things to do and see in and around Fresno, in addition to a visit to their gallery. “Sequoia National Park is a short drive from Fresno and the big attraction (pun intended) is the giant sequoias,” they say. “Locals also frequent Moro Rock, a large granite dome within the park. A concrete and stone stairway of more than 350 steps leads to the top of the formation. Climbers are rewarded with views of the Great Western Divide’s peaks to the east and the San Joaquin Valley to the west.”
Laguna Beach
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association president Toni Kellenberg recommends checking out Laguna Beach’s Heisler Park, only a one block walk from the LPAPA Gallery. “The park stretches along the bluffs with scenic ocean views, walking paths, gardens, beaches and tide pools, and is a favorite spot to find plein air artists painting,” she says.
Palm Springs / Palm Desert
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is at the top of the list of must-sees in Palm Springs for the owners of J. Willott Gallery and MAD.KAT Gallery. Russ Tolman of MAD.KAT Gallery describes the attraction as “an excellent zoo and botanical garden with stunning desert vistas and even hiking trails.”
For a bite to eat, Tolman recommends Paul Bar/Food, saying, “enter into the blacked-out front in a sketchy east Palm Springs strip mall and you are immediately transported to a classic New York bar complete with white shirt and bow tie waiters and bartenders—and the food is excellent!” Josh Willott adds the Palm Springs Art Museum, Shields Date Garden, Salvation Mountain, and Pioneertown/Joshua Tree to the mix of other things to do in the area.
San Diego
If you find yourself in Arts District Liberty Station, there are endless options to explore. “First Friday open studios offer hands-on interactive art experiences,” says artist Peggy Fischbeck. “The park-like grounds encourage walks or plein air painting while the local hotel offers paddle boarding or canoeing. The Nautical History Gallery and Museum has life size mockups of naval ships spanning two centuries. Next door, at Solaré Ristorante, a Michelin Bib Gourmand Italian restaurant, artists have a special table where they share art ideas and Italian travel stories over delicious authentic cuisine.”
San Francisco
San Francisco-based glass artist David Patchen recommends hiking near the Legion of Honor art museum; casual on-table cooking Korean barbecue at Brothers in the inner Richmond neighborhood; Richmond Draft House for its huge selection of craft beers and the one-day glassblowing workshops that Patchen teaches at Public Glass.
If you find yourself in Marin, just north over the Golden Gate Bridge, Patchen says the farmers’ market in San Rafael is the best in the area, and suggests The Junction in Mill Valley for pizza, and to hike around Mt. Tamalpais, Miur Woods and Marin Headlands for amazing views.
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J. Willott Gallery
73300 El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 568-3180
gallery@jwillott.com
www.jwillott.com
Opened in 2007, J. Willott Gallery quickly established itself as a stalwart gallery in Palm Desert's famed El Paseo district through museum-endorsed artwork, honesty, impeccable customer service and a superior understanding of the local art markets. A brainchild of the owners who are lifelong friends, J. Willott Gallery represents the direct manifestation of years of planning and hard work. Remodeled in 2016 the gallery now boasts 22-foot ceilings, glass concrete floors and a state-of-the-art lighting system.
J. Willott Gallery entrance.Centered around museum-collected artists and rising stars from across the country, with California artists as a focal point, the gallery's offerings range from hyperrealism to geometric abstraction, but remains tightly focused on artwork that comes from highly educated, well-trained artists and the belief that true fine art is incubated rather than created haphazardly.
J. Willott Gallery, Spying in the Desert, acrylic on Linen, 104 x 65", by America Martin.“We take an unconventional approach [to sales] by eliminating artist openings, opting instead for a more casual approach,” says gallery co-owner Josh Paquette. “We find allowing our collectors to approach us on their schedule is more effective than creating arbitrary points in time for them to descend upon the gallery.”
J. Willott Gallery, Palomino, oil on panel, 72 x 48", by Jason Kowlaski.The gallery is currently representing artists Jason Kolwaski, Michael Schultheis, Julie Speidel, America Martin, Leonard Koscianski, Roger Berry, Ivan Carmona, Adam Normandin, Thomas McKinley, John Kiley, Richard Jolley, Danielle Hacche, Eric Nash and Ted Walsh.
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Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
LPAPA Gallery
414 N. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 376-3635
info@lpapa.org
lpapa.org
The Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) is a non-profit art organization created to promote and preserve Laguna’s deeply rooted plein air painting legacy established more than a century ago by plein air painters who traveled to Laguna Beach to capture its coastal beauty. Among them are famous artists William Wendt, Edgar Payne, Frank Cuprien and many others.
LPAPA Signature Artist Rita Pacheco painting at Heisler Park.LPAPA’s annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational is one of the most respected and highly acclaimed plein air fine art events in the country. The week-long event attracts the top award-winning plein air painters from around the country. The 26th annual Laguna Invitational begins on October 5 and culminates in the Collectors Gala on Saturday, October 13.
The LPAPA Gallery in Laguna Beach, CAThe LPAPA Gallery provides opportunity for established and emerging artists to show and gain recognition for their work through juried and invited art shows. LPAPA’s 2024 calendar began with its annual Signature Showcase which continues through February and can also be viewed online. The 20th annual Best of Plein Air Juried Show will be presented at the gallery in March, in addition to four additional juried art shows and five special exhibitions including a solo exhibition of works by Signature Artist and founding member John Cosby in June; and the 10th annual Miniature Art Auction in August.
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Light, oil, 9 x12", by Michael Obermeyer.LPAPA Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, and by appointment, with extended hours during Laguna’s First Thursdays Art Walk and to celebrate the opening of a new gallery show.
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MAD.KAT Gallery
71590 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
(760) 980-7550
kim@gallerymadkat.com
www.gallerymadkat.com
Interior view of MAD.KAT Gallery. Photo by Michael Mangold.With six contemporary art exhibitions per year, MAD.KAT Gallery is a new venue bringing international and U.S. artists with a fresh perspective to greater Palm Springs. Upcoming in 2024 is the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s celebrity photography of Hollywood Cool: the Photography of John R. Hamilton. The show opens on February 17, running concurrently with Palm Springs’s famous Modernism Week. Sound & Vision, an exhibition of visual art by 15 well-known recording artists opens on March 16. Featured artists include folk singer Joan Baez who will be showing her series of paintings of musical icons. Playful is a 17-person group show of international, U.S., and local artists that explores the less serious side of painting, mixed media, sculpture, fabric art and more. Playful opens on April 27 and remains on view through June 16.
MAD.KAT Gallery, Patti Smith, acrylic on canvas, 34 x 22", by Joan Baez.
MAD.KAT Gallery, See You Soon, oil on canvas. 20 x 24", by Kim A. Tolman.MAD.KAT Gallery is the creation of artist, production and scenic designer Kim A. Tolman. Originally from Germany's North Sea Coast, Kim paints large-format expressionistic abstracts in oil and acrylic, as well as more representational work as in her new California Noir series.
Please visit the website for gallery hours, opening reception dates and additional information.
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Arts District Liberty Station
2820 Roosevelt Road
San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 573-9300
www.artsdistrictlibertystation.com
libertystation.com/events
Aerial photo of Arts District Liberty Station. Photo by Malik Earnest.
Just a few miles from the San Diego International Airport and downtown area, Liberty Station’s 28-acre Arts District encompasses 60 studios focused on visual, performance and literary arts. Over 40 visual artists produce fresh, bold, expressionistic works, capturing the vibrancy of Southern California, interlaced with the area’s Hispanic influence.
Figurative painting class at Leon Okun Studio.
Throughout 2024, Arts District joins in celebrating San Diego-Tijuana World Design Capital. In March, the Command Center Gallery features work by Tijuana-born artist Rosa Huerta. Additional exhibits on our cross-border interface, including classical inspired figurative works from the recently expanded Leon Okun studio, fill out the year.
Arts District Liberty Station, Casa de San Miguel de Allende, oil on canvas, 40 x 30", by Rosa Huerta.
Collectors will find options that range from the classical to the contemporary in Arts District Liberty Station, from Lisa Bryson’s thick textural paintings influenced by pop culture to the dream-inspired narrative works by Lauren LeVieux. The textured, luminous, nature-inspired works by Colleen Veltz complement interior design as do the highly collected mixed media artworks by Anne Gaffey. Other notable Liberty Station artists include Janet McCarty, Susan Salazar, Patricia Martinez, Renee Addison and Peggy Fischbeck. For more information about these and other artists in Liberty Station visit www.libertystation.com.
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Maxwell Alexander Gallery
1300 N. Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91104
(213) 275-1060
www.maxwellalexandergallery.com
Maxwell Alexander Gallery, The Western Sky, oil, 30 x 40", by Eric Merrell.
Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Shadow’s Edge, oil, 16 x 24", by Logan Maxwell Hagege.
Despite what some news outlets and podcasters lead you to believe, California is an amazing state with much to offer. Specifically, Los Angeles and now Pasadena—where Maxwell Alexander Gallery’s new gallery is located—are full of culture, great weather, world-class museums and restaurants and, of course, art. In a post-Covid world, the gallery is continuing to do much business over the phone and email, shipping artworks nationwide and internationally, but in the last year they’ve noticed a large uptick in collectors wanting to visit in person again.
Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Drifters, oil, 30 x 30", by Glenn Dean.
“With so many folks being tied to Los Angeles, whether they are from here originally, have a kid or grandchild in college here, business relations, etc. Whatever it may be, we are a must-visit destination for those who want to see the best in the West,” says owner Beau Alexander. “Sales have continued to increase each year and we expect a large increase from the upscale neighborhoods of Pasadena where we purchased our new building to house our gallery. Come visit us next time you’re in town!”
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David Patchen Handblown Glass
San Francisco, CA
(650) 740-9794
david@davidpatchen.com
www.davidpatchen.com
David Patchen is internationally known for his colorful and intricate blown, hot-sculpted glass. His mastery of the murrine, cane patterning techniques and eye for vibrant colors results in work that is exciting and precise.
David Patchen, James Devereux, Aqua Comet Quillon, glass, 14 x 35 x 5". Photo credit: Simon Bruntnell.
Formerly, Patchen’s creative energies found an outlet in music, but a blowpipe and furnace have replaced his guitar and amp. After two decades working in corporate and product marketing, a glassblowing class in 2001 ignited such a passion that he transitioned his career from technology to full-time glass artist.
David Patchen, Aurora Ellipse, glass, 18 x 15 x 4". Photo credit: David Patchen.
Patchen’s work is shown internationally at galleries and shows including SOFA Chicago, ART Shanghai and COLLECT London. He has demonstrated as guest artist at the Corning Museum of Glass and at many of the Glass Art Society’s annual conferences.
David Patchen, Vermillion Foglio, glass, 21 x 14 x 4". Photo credit: David Patchen.
Primarily self-taught, Patchen honed his skills through experimentation informed by observing local artists and a few brief visits with Afro Celotto, maestro and former assistant to Lino Tagliapietra in Murano, Italy. His book is in the permanent collection of the Rakow Library at the Corning Museum of Glass and the Centro Studi del Vetro in Venice, Italy.
Patchen currently creates work in several of his own series as well as in collaboration with UK-based artist James Devereux. These collaborations combine Patchen’s colorful patterns with Devereux’s hot sculpted and hot-chipped forms to yield dramatic and elegant sculpture.
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Billis Williams Gallery
2716 S. La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 838-3685
gallery@billiswilliams.com
www.billiswilliams.com
Billis Williams Gallery, Ford Ball Gum & Soda Pop Bottles, 2023, oil on canvas, 40 x 30", by Christopher Stott.
“2024 marks the gallery’s 20th year in Los Angeles and we are thrilled to present an exciting series of exhibitions by both emerging and mid-career painters,” shares gallerist Tressa Williams. “This year, we are pleased to announce the representation of three exciting new artists—Fabiola Gironi, Terry Leness and Kevin Yaun.”
Billis Williams Gallery, Original Owner, 2022, oil on canvas, 24 x 20", by Terry Leness.
Yaun’s architectural realism blends representation and abstraction in stunningly nuanced oil paintings in sophisticated color palettes. His brushwork is free and full of movement and yet deeply grounded in a strong understanding of form and technique. Gironi layers acrylic, oil, color sticks and occasionally wool embroidery, and the resulting paintings are dynamic and elegant—structured yet playful. Often depicting objects from domestic spaces, Gironi’s paintings are formal yet unexpected in their compositions and enticing in their luscious colors. Leness finds wonder in the everyday in her exquisitely detailed oil paintings. Her intense renderings of leaves, bricks, cars, and architecture is balanced by the intimacy and warmth of the compositions.
Billis Williams Gallery, After Veronese, 2023, oil on wood panel, 23½ x 31½", by Fabiola Gironi.
2024 also brings exhibitions of new works by long-time gallery artists including Christopher Stott’s vintage object portraits, Raymond Logan’s deeply textural works “carved” in oil paint, and an exciting exhibition of paintings and sculpture by well-known Los Angeles-based process-painter Suzan Woodruff, in what will be her first show in eight years.
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CODA Gallery
73400 El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-4661
contact@codagallery.com
www.codagallery.com
CODA Gallery features a dynamic array of contemporary artists working across genres and mediums.
Joy and passion surrounding fine art are hallmarks of CODA Gallery, an El Paseo landmark that has resonated with collectors for more than 35 years. At CODA, acquiring art is a relaxed and pleasurable experience. A spirit of generosity and warmth greets visitors the moment they enter the space, where consultants are welcoming and willing to share their expertise with collectors at every level.
The interior of CODA Gallery located on El Paseo in Palm Desert, California.
CODA Gallery, Bubble Up, acrylic on linen, 60 x 60", by Pavlina Alea.
The gallery features work by a wide range of established, mid-career and emerging contemporary artists who specialize in a variety of media, from painting and photography to sculpture and glass. Many artists that the gallery represents are available for custom commissions.
Frequent exhibitions as well as artist receptions and local art walks offer enthusiasts a chance to gather and interact with the CODA collection. To view all artists and exhibitions, visit www.codagallery.com.
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A Sense of Place Gallery
2003 N. Van Ness Boulevard
Fresno, CA 93704
(559) 580-9616
boroskigallery@gmail.com
www.asenseofplacefineart.com
A Sense of Place Gallery is located in the breadbasket of California between Yosemite and Sequoia national parks, and proudly represents established and up-and-coming representational and impressionistic artists. The gallery offers the finest collections of traditional and contemporary oil, watercolor and pastel paintings; drawings, glass sculptures, pottery, wood art and jewelry. “We truly value our role in the enhancement of society’s intellectual and emotional understanding of the world through artistic expression,” say gallery owners Brian and Kristen Boroski. “We enjoy assisting our existing and future collectors in curating what is right for their own collections, homes and businesses to enrich their environments and lives for years to come.”
A Sense of Place Gallery, Autumn Opus, oil, 40 x 40", by Daniel J. Keys.
The gallery actively supports artistic development in its communities, schools and universities, and provides direct opportunities for experiencing art as a form of expression and communication through painting and print workshops. Upcoming workshops include Daniel J. Keys’ three-day painting workshop from February 22 to February 24, and Monique Wales relief print workshop on March 2 and 3. The Boroskis invite you to visit A Sense of Place Gallery and experience firsthand one of the unique shows, events, or workshops they have planned in 2024.
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Pauline Roche
paulinerochestudio@gmail.com
www.paulinerochefineart.com
Pauline Roche grew up in Australia and moved to the United States in 1995. She lived in Boston and Tucson, and now lives in Del Mar, California. Pauline received classical art training in oil painting in the studios of practicing artists in Australia, and then undertook further studies in the United States and Florence, Italy.
Pauline Roche, Visiting the Museum (National Gallery, London), oil on linen, 12 x 9"
Roche’s figurative paintings usually portray people in intimate interiors or beautiful outdoor spaces. She aims to capture the unique gestures of people in quiet contemplation and reveal a connection between people and their surroundings.
Whether a moment in everyday life, or a person enthralled in activities they love, the figures in her paintings are fully engaged in something thoughtful. The pieces are often about quietness or moments of pause. Whether a grand space or close and intimate environs, she hopes to reveal a soft poetic quality—a moment of tranquility. Over the years she has especially enjoyed painting people gazing at masterpieces within museums and has recently completed some new pieces in that vein. —
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