Laguna Art Museum is the museum of California art. It collects, cares for, and exhibits works of art that were created by California artists or represent the life and history of the state. Unlike any other museum in the state, it collects California art and only California art, and ranges across all periods and styles, nineteenth-century to present-day.
The museum traces its origins to the Laguna Beach Art Association, formed by local artists in 1918. A custom-built gallery was founded in 1929, designed by the well known Los Angeles architect Myron Hunt, which survives as the Steele Gallery within the present museum building. In 1986 it changed its name to Laguna Art Museum and a physical expansion completed the building as it now stands.
Today the museum is both an artistic destination and a relevant, respected center of culture for Laguna Beach, showcasing works from its collection of more than 3,500 works of California art, presenting special exhibitions, and offering a range of educational and public programs.