Casa Romantica Will Present THROUGH THE DECADES: ARTISTS THAT SHAPED THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS
The summer exhibition will feature works from the Festival of Arts Permanent Art Collection.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens will present its upcoming summer exhibition in partnership with the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach.
Titled, Through the Decades: Artists That Shaped the Festival of Arts, the special summer exhibition will feature select works from the Festival of Arts Permanent Art Collection. On view at Casa Romantica from June 12 through September 6, 2026, the exhibition traces more than a century of Southern California art history while celebrating the artists who helped shape Laguna Beach's enduring creative identity.
“Casa Romantica is honored to present this exhibition celebrating the enduring legacy of the Festival of Arts and the vibrant artistic spirit that has long defined our neighboring coastal communities,” said Kylie Travis, Co-Executive Director of Casa Romantica. “For generations, the arts have shaped the cultural identity of our beach towns, inspiring creativity, connection, and a deep appreciation for California's landscape and history.”
Drawn from the Festival of Arts Permanent Art Collection, an archive of more than 1,000 works documenting the region's artistic legacy, the exhibition brings together historic and contemporary paintings, ceramics, and sculptures that reflect the evolution of art in Laguna Beach and across Southern California.
Among the exhibition's standout works is "Flower Stalls" by Virginia Woolley (1884–1971), one of the Festival of Arts' founding artists and an influential figure in Laguna Beach's early arts community. The painting was the very first artwork sold during the inaugural Festival of Arts in 1932 and reflects Woolley's legacy as a California Impressionist, educator, and advocate for arts accessibility in Laguna Beach.
Additional featured works include The Bathers, Laguna Beach by Festival founder John H. Hinchman, whose vision for a community art festival during the Great Depression laid the foundation for what would become one of the nation's most celebrated arts organizations. Also on view is a "Composite Sketch/Pageant Bethlehem" by Roy Ropp, the artist widely remembered as the “Father of the Pageant” for transforming the early living picture presentations into the Pageant of the Masters.
The exhibition also includes works by celebrated California artists like Roger Kuntz, Joane Cromwell, Edgar Payne, Elsie Palmer Payne, Frank Cuprien, and contemporary Festival exhibitors such as Fred Stodder, Mike Tauber, Pat Sparkuhl, and Monica Dunham, to name a few.
Founded in 1932 by John H. Hinchman, the Festival of Arts began as a grassroots effort by local artists seeking to uplift their community during the Great Depression while attracting visitors traveling to Southern California for the Los Angeles Olympics. What began as a modest one-week outdoor art exhibition evolved into a nationally recognized nonprofit arts institution and the iconic Pageant of the Masters, where volunteers re-create famous works of art as “living pictures” on stage each summer.
“Through this partnership with Casa Romantica, we are proud to share the remarkable artists and stories preserved within the Festival of Arts Permanent Art Collection,” said David J. Perry, President of the Festival of Arts. “This exhibition offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the evolution of art in our community while celebrating the generations of artists who continue to shape Laguna Beach's creative legacy.”
In celebration of the exhibition opening, Casa Romantica will host a special Members Only Preview Night on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., exclusively for Casa Romantica members. A Public Opening Reception will follow on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.
Perched above the Pacific in San Clemente's historic Ole Hanson estate, Casa Romantica has long served as a cultural hub dedicated to preserving and celebrating Southern California's rich artistic heritage. Through this special partnership, Casa Romantica continues its mission of connecting the community through art, history, and culture by bringing together iconic works that helped define Laguna Beach as one of the nation's premier arts destinations.
"Through the Decades: Artists That Shaped the Festival of Arts" will be on view at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens from June 12 through September 6, 2026. Admission information, hours, and additional details can be found at Casa Romantica.
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