This month in the Lobby Art Gallery presents “Baja Collection” by Laura Riley.  Join Laura at her IN-PERSON reception in the Dance Palace lobby on Friday, September 6th from 5-7pm (during the First Friday Artwalk). 

Gallery Hours Monday – Friday 9am-3pm

“The inspiration to paint is almost everywhere I look, where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.  From trails on Mount Tamalpais to the Sausalito harbor, there is no shortage of beauty to inspire.”

Laura Riley’s art career began after leaving a teaching post in 2015. A friend gave her a small book titled “Art Before Breakfast” by Danny Gregory. Eager to start a sketchbook, Laura soon began taking drawing and painting classes at the local community college. Together with an art buddy, sketching people in local cafés and on location plein air became a regular practice. When COVID-19 disrupted their routine, they transitioned to online art classes. Discovering the Creative Visionary Program with Nick Wilton was a turning point.

Laura continues to learn from teachers and fellow classmates, exploring various mediums including oils, pastels, gouache, watercolor, and Gel-plate printing. Most recently, there was an opportunity to teach pickleball in Baja, Mexico for several months. The vibrant colors and flavors of Mexico proved intoxicating, and painting almost every afternoon in the warmth of the ocean breezes led to the creation of the “Baja Collection.”