Catalina Museum for Art & History presents Painting Catalina: An Island Through Artists’ Eyes, on view now through Dec. 12, 2027. For over a century, Catalina Island has captivated artists with its rugged shores, rolling hills, and remarkable light. Through their paintings, these artists capture not only the island’s natural beauty, but also the evolving ways its landscape has been seen, experienced and interpreted over time.
Featuring 35 paintings drawn exclusively from the permanent collection of the Catalina Museum for Art & History, Painting Catalina explores more than a century of artistic perspectives of the island. The exhibition also offers a glimpse into the Museum’s collecting history and its enduring dedication to preserving and celebrating Catalina’s artistic legacy.
“For more than a century, artists have interpreted Catalina’s landscape through their own experiences and artistic traditions,” said Sheila Bergman, PhD, Executive Director of Catalina Museum for Art & History. “Bringing these paintings together from our permanent collection allows us to examine how artistic perspectives of the island have evolved over time, while recognizing the importance of preserving these works as part of California’s cultural history.”
The exhibition starts with Frances Lauderbach, an artist and educator whose connection to Catalina began in 1897, when she and her mother settled in Avalon, and evolved into an inspiring relationship that resulted in a collection of paintings of the island, offering an extraordinary and intimate view of Catalina at the turn of the twentieth century. Her paintings presented in this exhibition offer an intimate visual record of the island and the life of an artist deserving of greater recognition. Also during this time period, Granville Redmond, a leading figure in California Impressionism known for his artistic approach of combining the color and light of Impressionism with his remarkable sensitivity to atmosphere, mood, and the natural environment, painted Catalina,Toyon Bay, c.1901, which showcases Catalina as part of the larger story of California Impressionism.
For Roger Moulton “Bud” Upton, Catalina became both a lifelong artistic subject and home, where he settled permanently in 1932. His paintings convey a deep connection to the island and its community, while his involvement in Avalon’s cultural life as a resident helped shape a legacy that endures today. His paintings included in Painting Catalina offer a tremendous view of Catalina through the eyes of an artist whose creative life was inseparable from the place he called home.
The exhibition concludes with seven contemporary artists whose paintings reflect the vitality of contemporary landscape painting. Their work brings distinctive interpretations of familiar places while continuing an artistic legacy that began more than a century ago.
Together, the paintings included in Painting Catalina present a visual history of Catalina through successive generations of artists. They also highlight the importance of the Museum’s permanent collection as not simply a record of the past, but as a resource through which the island’s artistic history can continue to be explored and understood.
For more information about the Catalina Museum for Art & History, visit CatalinaMuseum.org. To stay connected, follow the museum’s social media platforms @CatalinaMuseum on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Catalina Museum for Art & History
The Catalina Museum for Art & History offers the best in art and history exhibitions, live music and dance performances, engaging lectures, cultural events, and creative workshops for all ages. Dedicated to celebrating Catalina Island’s rich cultural heritage and artistic legacy, the Museum is a vibrant cultural destination for residents and visitors alike. Located in the heart of Avalon at 217 Metropole Avenue, the Museum welcomes visitors year-round. For more information, visit CatalinaMuseum.org or call 310-510-2414.