Laguna Art Museum grows and strengthens its permanent collection largely through donations from collectors, artists, and foundations. Since the beginning of 2018 it has received some outstanding donations of works of art in recognition of the centenary of its founding organization, the Laguna Beach Art Association. On show in the museum for the first time, the Centennial Gifts include paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and original prints by acclaimed California artists of the past and the present. The exhibition also includes some promised gifts pledged to the collection during the past year, and two museum purchases. The featured artists include Lita Albuquerque, Tony DeLap, Lorser Feitelson, Joseph Goldyne, Emil Kosa, David Ligare, Dan McCleary, R. Kenton Nelson, Edgar Payne, Ruth Peabody, Agnes Pelton, Charles Rollo Peters, and David Simpson. The exhibition is a celebration of the museum’s growth as it moves beyond the centennial year and an expression of gratitude toward the donors who, through their gifts, have contributed so richly to Laguna Beach’s artistic legacy.

Centennial Gifts: Recent Additions to the Permanent Collection is the first exhibition to be shown in the museum’s newly remodeled lower-level galleries. The remodeling would not have been possible without the generous building improvement grant recently provided by the City of Laguna Beach. The museum is also grateful to architect Anders Lasater for his pro bono work on the project, which was ably carried out by Oligino Construction Services.