Laguna Beach’s art scene has always been a vibrant one, and the First Thursdays Art Walk, which is held on the first Thursday of every month, aims to celebrate this. With various galleries all around the area opening up their doors for visitors to come in and mingle, while viewing awesome art, this is a monthly event that art lovers should definitely not miss out on.
North Galleries
One of the highlights of the North Galleries that are featured in the art walk is Sonia & Co, which can be found right next to the Laguna Museum of Art. This gallery focuses on featuring emerging contemporary artists, with the pieces here being quite affordable, although they do not pressure visitors to make a purchase, meaning that you are free to just enjoy the art. The Quorum Art Gallery is also worth a visit, as this is the longest established member-owned gallery in all of Laguna Beach. There are currently 12 member artists that showcase their work here, as well as a monthly guest artist, and the pieces you see will range from seascapes and florals to photography and abstract work.
Central Galleries
When it comes to Laguna Beach’s Central Galleries, the Ning Zhou Gallery is always an exciting one to visit. This gallery is owned by photographer Ning Zhou, and showcases his work only. The images themselves play on the connection between light, color, shape and shadow, and will no doubt have you mesmerized. Seven-Degrees is also worth checking out, as this is a multi-purpose creativity hub, which strives to nourish and cultivate artistic endeavours. There are several artists in residence at this facility, all of whom display their incredible work for the First Thursdays Art Walk.
South Galleries
For those who are seeking out a truly diverse selection of art, head to the Emerging Artists Showcase, which features the work of more than 70 artists from 25 different countries. From Serbia to England to Japan to the USA, you will see one-of-a-kind paintings and sculptures here, as well as many other unique pieces of work, including pencil sketches, glass pieces and charcoal renderings. The Sheila Olsen Fine Art Gallery is also not to be missed, as this is where you will see some stunning contemporary abstract seascapes. This is quite a quirky, funky gallery, with a rooftop garden that offers spectacular views of the ocean, as well as guest artists, live music, and a laid-back beach vibe.
As you can see, there are so many different galleries participating in the First Thursdays Art Walk all over Laguna Beach, and it would be impossible to check them all out in one evening. The best way to organize your time would be to decide on the type of art that you want to view, before choosing the galleries that best cater to this. Since the Art Walk is free, there is no reason why you cannot focus on one specific area each month, so that you will end up being able to see all of the galleries over time.
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