Through the Decades: Artists That Shaped the Festival of Arts

June 12 – September 6, 2026

Since its founding in 1932, the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach has celebrated the rich artistic heritage of Southern California while supporting generations of artists who helped shape Laguna Beach into one of the nation’s premier arts destinations. Through its Permanent Art Collection, the Festival preserves more than a century of regional art history, showcasing the evolution of California art and the creative spirit that continues to define the community today.

Through the Decades: Artists That Shaped the Festival of Arts, presented in partnership with Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, brings together historic and contemporary works from the Festival’s Permanent Art Collection for a special summer exhibition on view June 12 through September 6, 2026. Featuring paintings, ceramics, and sculptures by influential California artists and longtime Festival exhibitors, the exhibition highlights the artists, visionaries, and cultural moments that shaped both the Festival and Laguna Beach’s enduring creative legacy.

Featured artists include Virginia Woolley, John H. Hinchman, Roy Ropp, Roger Kuntz, Joane Cromwell, Edgar Payne, Elsie Palmer Payne, Frank Cuprien, Fred Stodder, Mike Tauber, Pat Sparkuhl, Monica Dunham, and more.

As a nonprofit cultural organization, Casa Romantica is dedicated to connecting the community through art, history, and culture while preserving the historic Ole Hanson estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San Clemente.

Browse the Exhibition Catalog

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