The 114th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition by the California Art Club wraps up on Aug. 7 in the South Bay at the VEFA Gallery in Los Angeles, a new and innovative contemporary art space with the mission of making art more accessible.

The event, which began June 11, has made a name for itself by featuring contemporary-traditional fine art. This year organizers put on display nearly 170 diverse works of art, with a focus on realist paintings and sculptures that employ classical techniques and highlight modern themes—a stark contrast to the popular abstract, avant garde, and digital art of the present day.

“The gold medal exhibition is considered to be a very prestigious event for the club,” Michael Obermeyer, president and signature artist at the California Art Club, said in a promotional video for the event. “I’ve had one painter tell me that it was like the Academy Awards for the California art club.”

Artists have to apply and be juried to participate in the exhibition. This year’s show included art by watercolorist Thomas W. Schaller and oil painter Warren Chang. Other artists include Esther Engelman and Glen Maxion, as well as Rick J. Delanty, Bradley W. Giles, and Jordan K. Walker, whose piece inspired by Jules Massenet’s opera “Thaïs” is a highlight. Renae Wang’s “Midnight Drive” and Glen Maxion’s “Beach Walk” are also featured during the event.

The exhibition does not have a theme, which is intended to promote artistic vision and is the way the exhibition has been run since its beginning over 100 years ago.

“The artists are free to create whatever they would like to create that they feel is their most important work,” Elaine Adams, Executive Director and CEO of the California Art Club, said. This allows artists to be able to express themselves freely.

The California Art Club, founded in 1909, generally focuses on landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and figurative art using classical techniques, such as acrylic, oil, pastel, and bronze, with themes encompassing the environment and social issues set in both serene landscapes and urban areas.

“What I love about the gold medal exhibition is that it is a museum show and it’s an opportunity for the public to actually meet the artists,” Obermeyer said.

The California Art Club’s Annual Gold Medal Exhibition has been held annually since 1911, and represents one of the country’s premier showcases of contemporary-traditional fine art. The exhibition has in the past been partnered with the celebrated Bowers Museum, which is located in Santa Ana and houses over 100,000 art pieces. The event has also been held at the Hilbert Museum located at Chapman University in Orange County.

Among the California Art Club’s members are professional artists, signature artists, as well as patrons. California Art Club’s chapters can be found worldwide. The club was started by Franz Bischoff, Carl Oscar Borg, and William Wendt. Today the club provides educational programs, paint-outs, and community events.

All of the artwork at the exhibition has been created within the past year.

“While we traditionally present the Gold Medal Exhibition at museums in Los Angeles, over the past four years we’ve had the pleasure of exhibiting in Orange County—twice at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and twice at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University in Orange,” President Emeritus of California Art Club Peter Adams said.

VEFA Gallery (Visual Experience Fine Arts) was founded by Joseph and Kathleen Anderson and is now run by their four sons.

“Bringing the exhibition to the South Bay has introduced the California Art Club to a new and enthusiastic audience, including emerging collectors and art lovers who are just discovering the breadth and beauty of traditional fine art,” Adams told The Epoch Times on Aug. 8.

“Throughout the two-month run, we’ve hosted a robust schedule of public programs—from artist spotlight talks, painting and sculpting demonstrations, docent-led tours, and a special art history lecture by renowned California art scholar Jean Stern.”

The exhibit will close out with a “Plein Air Paint/Sculpt-Out,” at which the public can create alongside our exhibiting artists. There will be children’s art stations and hands-on instruction provided by California Art Club artists.

“Overall, it has been a deeply rewarding season of art, education, and connection,” he said.

The last day of the event is Aug. 9. The event is free to the public, and open during the VEFA Gallery’s normal operating hours, which are from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is located at 21825 Hawthorne Blvd in Torrance, California.