Desert Dreams and Coastal Currents traces the parallel rise of Southern California and the Southwest as hubs of artistic innovation— and the lasting impact of these legacies on how we see and experience these places still. Around the turn of the twentieth century, artists seeking subject matter that felt at once recognizably American yet untainted by the industrial modernism of East Coast cities flocked to places like Laguna Beach in Southern California, or Taos and Santa Fe in Northern New Mexico. These different but complementary impulses became the basis for organizations such as the California Art Club (founded 1909), the Laguna Beach Art Association (founded 1918), and the Taos Society of Artists (founded 1915), fostering a sense of shared artistic values based on regional character.

The images they generated—of sun washed hills, dramatic deserts, and portraits of Pueblo life—have influenced regional identity, artistic production, and tourist expectations ever since. By showcasing historical work alongside contemporary art  that reimagines these traditions, Desert Dreams and Coastal Currents speaks to the ongoing exchange between art and place that continues to drive how we see the West today.