After presenting their signature event at museums throughout Orange County, the California Art Club is returning to Los Angeles County for its 114th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition.The show, hosted by VEFA Gallery in Torrance, California, will feature more than 160 fresh paintings and sculptures by the club's most esteemed members. The 2025 exhibition will offer the public an un-themed, diverse selection of artworks, created by some of the best emerging and renowned representational artists of today.
Thomas Blackshear, Booker, oil on canvas board, 14 x 11"
“Honoring the legacy of the founders of the century-old art organization, who inspired the California impressionism movement, the exhibiting artists employ classical fine art techniques to create their Gold Medal artwork, incorporating stylistic innovations to capture their personal experiences, interests and surroundings,” says a club representative. “As a result, the Gold Medal Exhibition presents a dynamic reflection of contemporary life, showcasing a diverse range of subjects.”
Jean Stern, club board member and director emeritus of the Irvine Museum, adds that the while the exhibit presents “landscapes, still life, portraits, genre scenes in a variety of media—focused on impressionism and realism—each work offers a unique perspective shaped by the artist’s vision.” Many artworks in this year's edition are also said to include global themes and cultural narratives, “further enriching the exhibition’s depth and relevance.”
Pauline Roche, Spellbound by Sorolla, oil on linen, 36 x 24"
Collectors can look forward to incredible artworks like Leona Gamble’s She Raised Wolves, depicting a female figure as the primary subject. “She sits at the edge of storm and sea, crowned in English roses, her silver hair threaded with wild blooms,” the artist explains. “In her lap, three wolves of wire—hand-shaped, spirit-forged. At her side, a living wolf stands—fierce, loyal, untamed. Inspired by the Crone archetype—the ancient mother, maker and guide—this painting honors the quiet power of those who shape strength from love, and legacy from tenderness. She is a force of nature. She raised wolves.”
Elizabeth McGhee, American Dream, oil no panel, 12 x 24"
In another figurative scene, Spellbound by Sorolla by Pauline Roche, we’re introduced to a layered perspective that has the viewer “watching a watcher.” Roche shares, “There’s a special kind of magic in witnessing someone completely immersed in a work of art. In Spellbound by Sorolla, I sought to capture that quiet moment of enchantment—a viewer drawn into Sorolla’s beautiful painting Pepilla the Gypsy and Her Daughter at the Getty Museum. In this piece, I explored the interplay of textures and colors, from the embroidered golden shawl on my model to the various ruffles and patterns of the gypsy clothing. A simple moment in a museum, blurring the boundary between observer and subject, reality and reverie.”
Leona Gamble, She Raised Wolves, oil on canvas, 36 x 24"
In addition to these talented artists, the Gold Medal Exhibition, running June 11 through August 9, will also feature landscapes and seascapes by Kim Lordier and Michael Obermeyer; urban landscapes and architecture by Erica Pollock Norelius; and sculpture by Adam Matano, Béla Bácsi and Alicia N. Ponzio, among many others.
VEFA Gallery will host a ticketed artist reception during the afternoon of Sunday, June 8. The run of the exhibition will also see educational programs, demonstrations and a Meet the Artist series where artists will be present every Saturday to engage with visitors. Please visit www.californiaartclub.org for detailed information. —
California Art Club: 114th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition
When: June 11-August 9, 2025
Where: VEFA Gallery, 21825 Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503
Info: www.californiaartclub.org, www.vefagallery.com
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