Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Announces Award Winners for “For the Love of the Sea” Exhibition
Juried Competition Honors the Legacy of Frank Cuprien in partnership with the Laguna Art Museum
LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) is proud to announce the award winners for its premier juried exhibition, “For the Love of the Sea”. Presented in special collaboration with the Laguna Art Museum (LAM), this exhibition celebrates the enduring coastal legacy of Frank Cuprien, the “Dean of Laguna Coast Painters”.
The competition drew over 320 entries from across the United States. Following a rigorous jurying process, the 2026 Awards Judges—Julie Perlin Lee (Laguna Art Museum Director) and Dr. Kelly Tucker (Frank Cuprien Scholar and Museum Guest Curator)—selected four masterworks for top honors:
1st Place: Antonia Zenin – “Pacific Sunset” (9” x 12” Oil)
2nd Place: Renae Wang – “Bluff Twilight” (12” x 12” Oil)
3rd Place: Michael Obermeyer – “Liquid Gold” (15” x 30” Oil)
Honorable Mention: Jeff Sewell – “Shine On” (16” x 20” Oil)
As a highlight of this collaboration, these award-winning artists will join our judges for a special panel discussion at the Laguna Art Museum on April 16th at 6:00 PM. The talk, “Plein Air Perspectives: Cuprien and Today,” will be moderated by LPAPA’s Vice President, Celeste Gilles, and will explore the technical and emotional bridge between Cuprien’s 100-year-old masterpieces and the contemporary plein air movement. For Tickets visit LagunaArtMuseum.org (https://lagunaartmuseum.org/event-calendar/event/plein-air-perspectives-cuprien-and-today).
“The sea remains a constant muse for our artists,” says LPAPA President Toni Kellenberg. “We are honored to collaborate with the Laguna Art Museum to showcase contemporary works that reflect the same reverence for the Pacific that Frank Cuprien pioneered a century ago.”
The qualifying jury for the competition included Laguna Art Museum’s Deputy Director Victoria Gerard, LPAPA Signature Artist Michael Situ, and LPAPA President Toni Kellenberg. The finalist field represented artists from five states, including California, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington.
The exhibition continues at the LPAPA Gallery and online at LPAPA.org through May 4th. Proceeds from art sales directly support the individual artists and LPAPA’s year-round mission to sustain youth education and art outreach programs. The Laguna Art Museum’s companion exhibition, Frank Cuprien: For the Love of the Sea, remains on view through September 7, 2026. Learn more at LPAPA.org (https://lpapa.org/030226-juried-art-show-inspired-by-frank-cuprien/).
Visit the LPAPA Gallery: Located on “Gallery Row” at 414 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. Hours: Thursday – Monday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. (First Thursday hours: 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm). For inquiries, email info@lpapa.org or call (949) 376-3635.
About LPAPA: The Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art organization dedicated to preserving Laguna’s rich plein air legacy and inspiring the next generation of artists to carry on the tradition of painting outdoors.
