Gallery of Hermosa: Best of the Beach

Local, national, and international artists are invited to participate in the "Best of The Beach" Exhibit, presented by the Gallery of Hermosa and Easy Reader News at the Gallery of Hermosa space in Hermosa Beach, CA!

We're seeking high-quality artwork that interprets "Best of the Beach" through your unique artistic lens and experiences. What does "Best of the Beach" look like to you? This is not necessarily a Beach-themed show.

• Submission deadline: Sunday, November 22, 2026
• Decisions emailed: Monday, November 30, 2026
• Opening reception & awards: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2–5 PM
• Exhibition: December 12, 2026 – January 10, 2027

Awards

• Best in Show: $500 prize + article in Easy Reader News
• Second Place: $200 prize
• Third Place: $100 prize
• Four Additional Awards: $50 each
• Awards will be announced at the opening reception, and winners need not be present to win.

Presented by Easy Reader & Gallery of Hermosa

Calling all artists! Submit your best original artwork for a juried exhibition celebrating creativity, originality, and artistic excellence. Open to all artists, local, national and international, working in any medium.

• Submission deadline: Sunday, November 22, 2026
• Decisions emailed: Monday, November 30, 2026
• Artwork drop-off: Monday - Wednesday, December 7-9, 2026, 11 AM–4 PM
• Opening reception & awards: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 2–5 PM
• Exhibition: December 12, 2026 – January 10, 2027
• Artwork pick-up: Monday, January 11 and Tuesday, January 12, 2027, 11 AM–4 PM
• Location: Gallery of Hermosa, 138 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Awards

• Best in Show: $500 prize + an article in Easy Reader
• Second Place: $200 prize
• Third Place: $100 prize
• Four Additional Awards: $50 each
• Awards will be announced at the opening reception, and winners need not be present to win.

The Best in Show winner will receive a $500 prize and an article in Easy Reader News. The length, format, and timing of the article will be determined by Easy Reader. 

About the Theme: What Is "Best of the Beach"?

This is not necessarily a beach-art show. Artistic excellence is the standard, and there is no required subject. Your work does not need to depict the beach, the ocean, or coastal life, though it can. Subject matter, style, and medium are open.

Artist statement (recommended). With each entry, you may include a short statement explaining why this piece is, to you, the "Best of the Beach." There is no wrong interpretation. You might consider:

• Your best work: the piece that represents the strongest of your practice
• The beach as subject: coastline, water, light, wildlife, surf culture, or life by the sea
• The beach as metaphor: shoreline, tide, horizon, edge, impermanence, or the meeting of two worlds
• A personal connection: a memory, place, or community that the beach represents to you
• Your own take: any other interpretation

Selection Process:
This exhibit will be juried by a panel of art professionals.
Submissions will be evaluated on:

• Artistic quality and craftsmanship
• Relevance to the theme "Best of the Beach"
• Innovation and ability to inspire or provoke thought

Artists will have the opportunity to showcase their work at the Gallery of Hermosa, a brick and mortar gallery located in the heart of Hermosa Beach. Located within Los Angeles, and close to Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Torrance, San Diego, Oceanside, Santa Barbara, Palos Verdes. Artists from California, New York, Boston, Miami, Colorado, New Mexico, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, national and international are welcome to apply. Selected works may be listed online on our website as well.

For more information, please visit www.GalleryOfHermosa.com and follow us on Instagram @GalleryOfHermosa.

Artists may submit up to Three (3) images for the non-refundable entry fee of $36. Detail shots count toward the image total. This is a juried exhibit.  Application does not guarantee entry or acceptance into the exhibit.

All accepted artwork will be offered for sale from the time of acceptance, during this exhibition at our gallery and online. Please include the selling price in your CaFE account portfolio/artwork image details. 

Artists please include an Artist’s Statement and brief description for each artwork. 

Open to all local, national and international artists. Artist is responsible for delivering or shipping artwork to and from the gallery. Dates will be provided. 

Eligible Works:
We welcome 2D works in all mediums and smaller 3D sculptures. Can include but not limited to paintings in oil, watercolor, mixed media, pastel, acrylic, pen and ink, sumi-e, pencil drawings, works in ceramic, bronze, marble, stone or other mediums. We will consider all genres including but not limited to landscapes, figurative, portraits, abstract, surreal, still life, impressionism, expressionism, pop art, realism, conceptual art, digital art, photography and more.

All work must be original and created by the entering artist. 

Accepted work must be available for sale. Work that is not for sale (NFS) is not eligible.

Artwork Requirements

• High-quality, original art only. All mediums and genres that connect to the theme will be considered.
• All two-dimensional work must arrive ready to hang, professionally and securely framed or mounted.
• Wire hanging is required. Install a braided picture wire across the back, secured to D-rings or screw eyes attached to the frame or stretcher, so that the wire sits about one-third of the way down from the top. No sawtooth hangers. Artwork that cannot be hung with wire will not be displayed.
• Canvases should be gallery-wrapped with finished (painted) edges, or framed. Stapled sides with raw edges, or unfinished edges will not be accepted.
• Works on paper, photography, and prints must be framed or mounted on board.
• Glass: Works larger than [20 inches] on any side must not be framed with glass. Use acrylic (Plexiglas) instead. Gallery of Hermosa is not responsible for broken glass or damage caused by glass.
• Works that are wet, tacky, or unfinished will not be accepted.
• Clip-on frames, loose or unframed paper, and works on unfinished boards are not accepted
• Photography: Must be unique or part of a limited edition series. Please specify the series and edition and note as such on the artwork.
• Artist Statement: We recommend including an artist statement with your submission. This should provide insight into the inspiration behind your work and connection to the theme.
• Social Media and Website: Include your Instagram handle and website URL.

Size and Weight Limits

• Maximum size for two-dimensional work: 48 inches in width x 72 inches in height including frame.
• Maximum weight for any artwork: 25 lbs.
• Maximum size for three-dimensional work: 24 × 24 × 24 inches; weight must be suitable for display on a pedestal or shelf. Sculptures must be stable and ready to display. Gallery of Hermosa will provide display surfaces where possible.
• Diptychs and triptychs are accepted as one entry only if the full work fits within the maximum dimensions and each panel is individually wired and labeled.

Labeling

• On the back of every artwork, attach a label with: artist name, title, medium, dimensions, retail price, and phone or email. Please also mark "TOP" with an arrow if orientation is not obvious.