Art in Sonoma County

by Satri Pencak

Sonoma County has been a magnet for artists and art connoisseurs for many decades, and continues to attract sophisticated artists and art collectors, along with casual art lovers. Combined with the sheer natural beauty, and general creative ambience, the area readily entices visitors, as well as long-time residents, to explore the many and varied fine art offerings. With the addition of great food, drink, and outdoor activities, it’s easy to spend a day, a week, or a lifetime traversing through the vineyards, forests, and rolling hills, along the scenic coast, and through the welcoming towns of Sonoma County.

The following is a partial list of local art exhibitions. Many eateries, wineries, and civic buildings also present changing art shows in their spaces.
Please check with the venues for current status of health protocols, hours, events and exhibitions.

*** Designates an Opening Reception.

Arts Guild of Sonoma
Through September 29, Friends Art Show
*** Opening reception Thursday, September 4, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., held in conjunction with the Sonoma Art Walk.
Guild member artists share their gallery space with invited friends, mentors, and fellow creatives, offering the community a rare opportunity to experience Sonoma’s artistic spirit through the lens of collaboration.
140 E. Napa St., Sonoma
707-996-3115

Calabi Gallery
With regret that, after 16 years in our Santa Rosa location, we announce the closing of Calabi Gallery. The gallery will continue as an online venture mostly focused on the estates they represent, but also including significant works in the collection.
456 Tenth St., Santa Rosa
707-781-7070

Charles M. Schulz Museum
Through September 10, Paperback Peanuts
Downstairs Changing Gallery
The first Peanuts paperback came out in 1952, and it was followed by many, many more. The affordable, pocket-sized books were easy gifts to give, share, and collect and brought joy in good times and solace in bad for many fans. Discover the history of these beloved treasures and learn how it all started with someone who didn’t read comics at all!

Through January 11, 60 Years of A Charlie Brown Christmas
The holidays arrive early this year at the Schulz Museum with 60 Years of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The new exhibition draws from the Schulz Museum’s vast collection, including never-before-displayed items, to become one of the most enduring and celebrated holiday programs ever. This is the story about how the very first Peanuts animated special was created.
2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa
707-579-4452

Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery
Through September 26, Sisters
The guest artist for this exhibit is Rosalie Paine. Community Annex Artists are: Jared Burton and Gullliver Perry. Resident artists are Laura Paine Carr, Trudi Folsom, Jane Gardner, Pamela Heck, Terry Holleman, Will McCoy, Jason Taylor Morgan, and Jennifer Weiss. Laura Paine Carr is the featured resident artist.
204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale
707-894-4410

Corricks Art Trails Gallery/ My Daughter the Framer
September 5 through October 12, Art Trails Preview Exhibit
*** Opening reception Friday, September 5, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Seventy-five local artists are featured to celebrate Art Trails Open Studios season.
637 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa
707-546-2424

Fulton Crossing Art Gallery
1200 River Rd., Fulton

Graton Gallery
Through September 7, Paint & Ink
*** Artists Reception Saturday, August 2, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Paintings by Sandra Rubin and Prints by Rik Olson; with Guest Artists Barbara Lawson, Jay O’Neil, and Niko Preovolos.

September 11 through October 19, Still Life Juried Show
*** Artists Reception September 13, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The genre of Still life celebrates the artistry of everyday objects into compelling compositions that capture the essence of stillness and storytelling. Juried by Linda Schroeter.
9048 Graton Road, Graton
707-829-8912

Hammerfriar Gallery
132 Mill St, Healdsburg
707-473-9600

Healdsburg Center for the Arts
334 Center Street, Healdsburg
707-431-1970

IceHouse Gallery / Digital Grange
405 East D St., Petaluma
707-778-2238

Laguna Foundation, Heron Hall
September 6 through December 19, Watershed Moment
Artists associated with North Bay Letterpress Arts explore the connection between language, image, and place through the craft of letterpress printing. Some works incorporate natural materials—like handmade inks and paper from local plants—to deepen their relationship with the landscape that inspired them. North Bay Letterpress Arts, based in Sebastopol, is a vibrant hub for printing, learning, and creative exchange.
900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa
707-527-9277

Museum of Sonoma County
Art
Through November 30, Bruce Johnson: Sculptor
Bruce Johnson: Sculptor, a landmark exhibition celebrating the life, vision, and legacy of one of Sonoma County’s most revered artists. The exhibition marks the first major museum survey of Johnson’s work since his sudden passing in 2023.

History
September 13 through November 2, Día de los Muertos
The 29th Annual El Día de los Muertos, or ‘Day of the Dead’, is a holiday that is celebrated in Mexico, many Central and South American countries, and within the United States on November 1 and 2. A joyous remembrance of the lives of family members and loved ones who have died, the holiday is a celebration of the cycle of life with ancient roots. The exhibition explores both the deep traditions and contemporary expressions of Day of the Dead. The altars and artworks in this year’s exhibition are designed and created by Jesus Bravo, Rubén Guzmán, Nathan Gomez and other artists. The community altar, which visitors may contribute to, will be created by the Museum in collaboration with Liz Camino-Byers and her remarkable collection of Mexican art and craft.
425 Seventh Street, Santa Rosa
707-579-1500

Occidental Center for the Arts
Through September 14: Pointless Sisters-Quilts

September 20 through October 25, Spellbound
3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental
707-874-9392

Paradise Ridge Winery
June 15-ongoing, Return to Paradise
Paradise Ridge Winery and the Voigt Family Sculpture Foundation are pleased to announce Return to Paradise – a sculpture exhibition celebrating Walter Byck and Marijke Byck-Hoenselaars’ thirty year legacy of visionary leadership and community engagement through art and sculpture at Paradise Ridge. Curated by Jeff Nathanson (former director of the Museum of Sonoma County), the exhibition will showcase more than a dozen local artists, each with a unique and rich history of exhibiting at Paradise Ridge. In recognition of Walter Byck and Marijke Byck-Hoenselaars’ enduring dedication to supporting local artists and to bringing sculpture to Sonoma County, the exhibition will serve as a celebratory return for the participating artists.
Paradise Ridge Winery; in Marijke’s Grove
4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Fountaingrove, Santa Rosa


Paul Mahder Gallery
On view; Love Songs for Kay: Coupled/Uncoupled
New Paintings by Harvey Brody, Love Songs for Kay is an anatomy of a symbiotic relationship between two artists with mostly opposite natures.
222 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg
707-473-9150

Pepperwood Gallery
On view, Sacred Habitat: the Visions of Ian Nelson
An exhibit of work by renowned local photographer and cinematographer Ian Nelson, presenting a captivating mixed-media event which showcases breathtaking visuals from around the globe, featuring not only stunning photographs but also thought-provoking short nature documentary films.
2130 Pepperwood Preserve Road, Santa Rosa

Petaluma Arts Center
September 18 through November 1, Xicano Community Narratives
*** Opening Reception Thursday, September 18, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
A collection of work by Bay Area Chicano artists. The artists invited to participate in this exhibition call Sonoma County home. Their work expresses individual stories of identity and experience, the experience of being Xicano today (American, Mexican, Californian, Indigenous), and being an artist in an ever-changing landscape.
Lowriders Festival Saturday September 27, from 12 to 4 p.m.
Dia de Los Muertos Altar & Closing Party, November 1, from 12 to 4 p.m.
230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma
707-762-5600


Ren Brown Collection Gallery
Through October 10, Pottery and Pigments
Historically, bowls were some of mankind’s first creations. From prehistoric times, vessels were needed for storing, cooking and as a utensil. They were central to rituals, and eventually became the focus for many artisans. In celebration of these humble beginnings, we offer an exhibit pairing recent three-dimensional ceramic works with two-dimensional paintings and prints on both canvas and paper. This exhibition showcases work by Japanese and American potters, painters and printmakers. Housed in a refurbished building with shoji and a small, serene Japanese garden, the gallery shows contemporary art by Japanese and regional Northern California artists.
1781 Coast Highway One, Bodega Bay
707-875-2922

Santa Rosa Arts Center
Through September 27, Patterns & Repetition
Patterns offer strength in numbers; the more there are, the more powerful their impression. Humans se patterns for both structural and decorative purposes. Patterns might be seen in the alignment of colors, the veins of a leaf, or the corrugations of a textured surface, but also in the portrayal of subjects (and objects) that involve and sustain the repetitive anchors of a culture or society such as the morning coffee, or the rising sun.

September 5 through November 1, INKtober
*** Artist Reception Friday, September 5 from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Inktober show highlights the beauty, originality and creativity of the inked surface. Artwork, up to 12″x12″, created using any of the various forms of ink –alcohol, oil or acrylic based, while strongly identified with the art of drawing, ink art can include mixed media art and printed imagery, such as etchings, block prints and lithography.
SOFA Arts District
312 South A Street, Santa Rosa
707-526-0135

Santa Rosa Junior College, Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery
1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa
707-527-4298

Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Through September 7, Art of Play
From playful explorations of abstract concepts to representations of how play fuels creativity; through experimentation with color, materials, and ideas, or through reflections on toys, playgrounds, and the role of play in child development, this exhibition explores diverse and imaginative responses to the art of play.

September 13 through October 19, 2025 Sonoma County Art Trails Preview
*** Opening reception Sunday, September 14, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Sonoma County Art Trails is our award-winning annual Fall juried open studio program. The Art Trails preview show is an opportunity to see works from all participating artists, and to plan your tour of their studios throughout Sonoma County during the event dates.
Open Studio Event Dates: Two Consecutive weekends, October 11-12 and 18-19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
282 South High St., Sebastopol
707-829-4797

Sebastopol Gallery
Through September 28, Windows; New Works by Diana Majumdar
In this mixed-media series, Diana layers architectural elements from her travels and from places close to home in Sonoma County with found objects and papers, creating complex paintings using encaustics. The windows serve as symbolic thresholds, framing the quiet presence of birds in moments of stillness or conversation. Each piece reflects a fascination with place, memory, and the natural world all around us.
150 N. Main St, Sebastopol
707-829-7200

Sebastopol Library, Forum Room
Through September 19, Bill Cutler; The Art of Still Life
Paintings of objects with luminous depth, as if they can be picked up from the canvas.
7140 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol
707-823-7691

Sofie Contemporary Arts
Through November 2, Between Logic and Light: Material and Meaning in Abstraction
Startup Projects @ Sofie Contemporary Arts presents viewers a contemplative experience, inviting them to engage with abstraction as a language of perception, memory, and meaning. Through diverse media and personal processes, these artists challenge us to see how thought takes form—and how form can shape thought. The exhibition includes works by Jamie Brunson, Arminée Chahbazian, Cynthia Sumner, Delbar Azari, Fernando Carnaúba, and Ray Beldner.
1407 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga
707-942-4231



Sonoma State University, University Art Gallery
September 4 through October 18, Reclaim, Repurpose, Reimagine
*** Opening reception Thursday, September 4, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Curated by SSU faculty members Eileen Parent and Stefan Kiesbye, the exhibition features works by five dynamic Bay Area artists. Spanning sculpture, fiber, photography, painting, and mixed media, these artists transform discarded materials into works that are not only visually striking but conceptually layered—engaging with urgent and often challenging topics.
Artist Talk: Thursday, September 25, from 4 to 5 pm in the Art Gallery.
1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park
707-664-2295

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Through September 7, Nancy Genn: The Nature of Being
This retrospective exhibition of work by Berkeley-based artist, Nancy Genn, explores a long career rooted in the history of post-war American art in the fields of gestural abstraction and abstract expressionism. She is known for working in various media, including paintings, bronze sculpture, printmaking, and notably, handmade paper based on the Japanese washi papermaking tradition. Influenced by her extensive travels, Asian craft aesthetics, and spiritual traditions, her work features nature’s effects of light, landscape, and water, along with the human presence represented by architectural motifs and functional objects.

September 20 through January 4, Last West: Dorothea Lange’s California Revisited
*** Opening Reception Saturday, September 27, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Last West: Dorothea Lange’s California Revisited uplifts current movements for dignity in the lives of migrant populations upon which California’s robust economy and agriculture depend. The exhibition presents Lange’s iconic as well as rarely seen California images, putting artifacts of her documentary work in dialogue with contemporary works by artists Erik Castro, Warren Chang, Lewis deSoto, Bruce Haley, Ken Light, Hung Liu, Narsiso Martinez, Joel Daniel Phillips, and others. The exhibition also includes a video installation and live theater performances based on the book Last West: Roadsongs for Dorothea Lange (2020).
551 Broadway, Sonoma
707-939-7862

Upstairs Art Gallery
September 1 through October 5, Being There In Plein Air
*** Reception Saturday, September 6, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Beverly Bird, presents Being There in Plein Air, a collection of paintings that capture the joys of enjoying nature firsthand. Working in oil, acrylic or watercolor, Bird loves to set up her easel and paint her landscapes direct from life. Meet the Artist: Bird will be hosting the Gallery September 11, 17 and October 4, 11 am to 6 p.m. The Stairway Small Works Showcase presents Willow LaLand’s, A Special Place on Earth, Sonoma County gems that are an ode from wine country to redwoods to the drama of the coast. Meet the Artist: LaLand will be hosting the Gallery September 3 & 6, 11am to 6 pm. Introducing New Gallery Member, Gen Zorich, who is currently showing a selection of cloudscapes, these works are imbued with the artist’s inspiration from nature.
306 Center Street, Healdsburg
707-431-4214

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