The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show,one of Southern California’s most cherished summer events, returns to Laguna Beach from July 2 through August 29. Staged in a breezy, open-air pavilion just a few blocks from the ocean, the event features 120 juried artists from Orange County and a diverse selection of artwork including paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, glass art, jewelry and more. Each artist has their own mini-gallery and is often on site to talk to visitors about their work.
Attendees mingle at the 2024 Festival of Arts Fine Art Show. Photo by Kyle Fierro.
The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show is more than an art fair. Every day patrons can enjoy live music, art demonstrations, hands-on workshops and auxiliary exhibitions. “This year’s festival is shaping up to be one of our most dynamic seasons yet,” says marking and PR director Sharbie Higuchi. “We’re proud to feature top-tier talent, including 16 new, first-time exhibiting artists who bring fresh perspectives and energy to our already impressive lineup. Our music programming has also expanded—guests can now enjoy live performances almost daily…On the special events side, we’ve added exciting new experiences like Battle of the Arts, a high-energy live art competition, while bringing back beloved traditions like the Festival Runway Fashion Show and Family Art Day. Each element has been thoughtfully curated to offer something for everyone, whether you’re an avid collector, a casual art lover or simply looking for a memorable day out in Laguna Beach.”
Terry Houseworth, Solitude, oil on panel, 20 x 32"
A talented painter of Southern California scenes like Dana Point Marina, Mark Jacobucci is among this year’s returning artists. He won American Art Collector’s Award of Excellence for the work he displayed at the 2024 Festival of Arts Fine Art Show. From Cape Cod to California, Jacobucci’s journey as a landscape painter beautifully merges his deep appreciation for art and nature. His work captures dynamic coastal, agrarian and urban environments with a vibrant interplay of light and color.
Also exhibiting this year is fine art photographer Hugh Foster, whose current work explores emotional architecture in confined spaces and the silent stories unfolding within them. About Fur and Faith and Between Mirrors, Foster says, “These two pieces, both set within the hush of confined fabricated rooms, one woman climbs a ladder, pointing towards the light, her longing held just beyond the window while a circle of loyal dogs waits below; the other sits in quiet reckoning, surrounded by the day’s choices masculine, feminine, neither or both—held still in the charged pause before becoming.”
From left: Mika Denny, Ikebana, PanPastel, charcoal and pastel pencils and washi paper on Strathmore toned paper, 16 x 10"; Mark Jacobucci, Dana Point Marina, oil, 12 x 16"
Terry Houseworth’s current work explores the beauty of nature through what he calls “a kind of fragmented realism.” He shares, “I begin with photographs of landscapes, trees and birds, then use digital tools to reshape the composition. I try to accent the focal points with detailed realism while surrounding areas become more stylized... This approach allows me to blend traditional painting with contemporary interpretation, inviting viewers to see the familiar in a new way.”
Brad Neal’s mixed media drawings combine the techniques of watercolor, and pen and ink, balancing evocative color washes with detailed line textures, to capture the atmosphere and depth of the environments that inspire him. Neal, whose featured pieces include Ballard Meadow, says, “My goal is to not only evoke their essential character, but to spark an emotional connection in the viewer about the scene depicted in my work.”
Hugh Foster, Fur and Faith, photograph on pigment inks on soft rag paper, 20 x 30"
Laguna Beach artist John Tolle, of Tolle Jewelry Designs, began exhibiting at Festival of Arts in 1973. His work has evolved into pieces like his casted and hand-fabricated waterfall pendant, which features a blue topaz in the center with a halo of pave diamonds, surrounded by various hand sculpted natural gem minerals, and framed with prong-set fine white diamonds in 14 karat yellow gold. The artist states, “My hammer and the anvil, the torch and the fire—these are the rhythms and the melodies; the jewelry is my song.”
Mixed media artist Jill Maytorena incorporates weaving, drawing, embroidery and textured found materials into layered stories of memory and identity. She says, “The human figure anchors my work—pastel and charcoal marks, vibrant colors, stitched threads and repeating patterns breathe life into fragments. With paper, fibers and pastel, I build intimate, tactile narratives. Each piece is a search for meaning—finding beauty in imperfection, stitching together what’s lost, unfinished or forgotten, and giving voice to the quiet emotions beneath the surface.”
Clockwise from top left: Hugh Foster, Between Mirrors, photograph on pigment inks on soft rag paper, 20 x 30"; Jill Maytorena, Crescent-Simplicity, mixed media, 60 x 20"; Jill Maytorena, Lady with Fan-Simplicity, mixed media, 60 x 22"; Brad Neal, Ballard Meadow, watercolor and gouache over ink on paper, 13 x 18"
For artist Mika Denny, being juried into the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show is a coming full-circle moment. “Forty years ago, as a graduating senior, I received a four-year scholarship from the festival; an early vote of confidence that meant the world to me,” shares Denny. “To be juried in now, after all these years, affirms that belief in my work continues. I’m truly honored to share my art, connect with new collectors, and be part of this vibrant community of artists.”
“The Festival of Arts is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of the arts, the community, and the incredible talent of local artists,” adds Higuchi. “With new events, returning favorites and hundreds of works by local artists, this season promises to be one of our most exciting yet.”
Visit www.foapom.com for ticket information, hours and a full schedule of events. —
Festival of Arts Fine Art Show
When: July 2-August 29, 2025
Where: Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Information: (949) 494-1145, www.foapom.com
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