Current Art Exhibits

 
Featured
The Birds and the Bees and More: Pollinators
The Birds and the Bees and More: Pollinators

March 2, 2024 – September 2, 2024

First Floor Wildling Gallery

We are excited to bring the important topic of pollinators to our California Nature Art Museum gallery featuring original art by Ava Roth, Elizabeth Weber, Susan McDonnell, Cynthia James, Sara Woodburn, and John Gould. Each artist brings a unique perspective to their pollinating subjects.

We are delighted to also be collaborating with the Cheadle Center For Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration at UC Santa Barbara. The Cheadle Center's contribution is focused on native bees, including high-resolution images of rare, local bees from the UCSB Natural History Collection and images of bees visiting flowers of native plants for an up-close look at their beauty and biodiversity.

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California's Changing Landscape: The Way of Water | George Rose
California's Changing Landscape: The Way of Water | George Rose

November 18, 2023 - July 8, 2024

Second Floor Valley Oak Gallery

The California Nature Art Museum is pleased to host California’s Changing Landscape: The Way of Water, a solo exhibition by renowned photographer George Rose on view November 18, 2023 through July 8, 2024.

Featuring more than 20 large-format documentary inkjet photographs of the Golden State, the exhibition showcases Rose’s recent expansive documentation of California's dramatic water story. His vast exploration of the state and its fraught relationship with water will culminate with the release of his forthcoming book of the same title, now available on our website and in the Museum gift shop.

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Message in a Bottle | Elizabeth Criss
Message in a Bottle | Elizabeth Criss

May 2023 - July 2024

Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery

The California Nature Art Museum is pleased to announce its new 2023 site-specific installation featuring Northridge-based artist Elizabeth Criss, as well as work by glass artist Sari Scheer. Message in a Bottle, designed for the Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery, is on view from May 2023 through July 2024. This long-term installation marks the third iteration of the Museum’s tower installation program, which aims to highlight Southern California artists inspired by the environment and provides an indoor-outdoor art experience for Solvang visitors.

Criss’ proposal was selected from the Museum’s 2023 request for artist proposals focusing on environmental impacts on the ocean.

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Selections from the Permanent Collection: California National Parks
Selections from the Permanent Collection: California National Parks

July 13, 2023 - Ongoing

Third Floor George & Barbara Goodall Education Center

The California Nature Art Museum has a small permanent art collection with works that illustrate different elements of nature. California’s national parks are a rich source of inspiration for artists of the past and present. From the dramatic peaks and waterfalls of Yosemite to the shadowy dunes of Death Valley, there is no shortage of natural wonders to explore in the Golden State.

In the selection of works on display in the George and Barbara Goodall Education Center, visitors are invited to explore seven artists' perspectives of Yosemite, Death Valley, and the Channel Islands, three of the nine majestic national parks within California.

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Permanent Exhibits

 
A Mighty Oak by John Iwerks

A Mighty Oak by John Iwerks

A Mighty Oak

A permanent wall mural in our 2nd floor gallery that depicts the habitat around a Valley oak–one of the largest and old trees found in our area! It’s a beautiful way to learn about the Santa Barbara County, see our educational materials.

Patti Jacquemain Mosaic

Patti Jacquemain Mosaic

Local Wildlife

Eight handcrafted mosaics by artist and museum founder Patti Jacquemain illustrate local wildlife. They are a delightful way to learn more about the natural world around us in Santa Barbara County and beyond!