The Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA, California) is proud to announce the designation of nine internationally and nationally acclaimed painters to its prestigious Signature Artist Member roster. Earning a spot on this list represents a masterful command of light, a profound dedication to painting under the open sky, and the ultimate acknowledgment of excellence by peers and industry experts.
More from the organizers:
To achieve the coveted title of LPAPA Signature Artist Member, candidates must survive a fiercely competitive, blind portfolio review. A distinguished panel of five expert jurors evaluated submitted bodies of work, looking for the absolute pinnacle of contemporary representational plein air and studio art. Only the highest top-scoring artists, receiving a minimum of 20 of 25 point scores, are awarded this career milestone.
The standard of excellence required for this honor is legendary within the art community:
“The designation of ‘Signature Artist’ in any artists’ association is a recognition of high status—an acknowledgment by your peers that you are worthy of special distinction for your remarkable talent and capability in creating a work of art,” says Jean Stern, Director Emeritus of The Irvine Museum and LPAPA’s Artistic Advisor. “It is a distinction that the majority of members of any art group do not have and, in turn, would love to receive. Your peers look to Signature Artists for inspiration and to set a high standard that they themselves strive to achieve.”
Introducing the Newest LPAPA Signature Artist Members:
LPAPA extends its warmest congratulations to the following nine artists, whose geographic diversity reflects the global reach of the Laguna Beach plein air legacy:
Harsh Agrawal – London, Great Britain
Allen Brockbank – Centerville, Utah
Philippe Gandiol – Davis, California
Linda Glover Gooch – Mesa, Arizona
Kelley Mogilka – Laguna Beach, California
Charles Newman – Haddon Township, New Jersey
Richard Sneary – Kansas City, Kansas
Lyudmila Tomova Clark – Cary, North Carolina
Renae Wang – Aliso Viejo, California
Grateful Recognition of the 2026 Jury Panel
LPAPA extends its deepest gratitude to the distinguished panel of jurors who lent their time, expertise, and critical eyes to this blind review process, including:
John Cosby – LPAPA Signature Artist & Founding Member
Mark Fehlman – LPAPA Signature Artist & Board Member
Toni Kellenberg – LPAPA President & Artist Member
Eric Rhoads – Publisher of PleinAir Magazine & Lifetime LPAPA Artist Member
Jean Stern – Director Emeritus of The Irvine Museum & LPAPA Artistic Advisor
LPAPA is honored to add these exceptional names to its history books and looks forward to the continued inspiration and leadership they will bring to the global art community. Art lovers, collectors, and fellow artists are invited to view individual profiles and explore the full, prestigious roster of LPAPA’s Signature Artist Members by visiting lpapa.org.
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Announcement prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
