Pasadena exhibit showcases California’s role in
creative landscape
Over many decades, Pasadena assumed an influential place within the emerging Southern California art landscape, yet this heritage frequently garners lower recognition than LA’s more prominent cultural spaces and venues.
A new exhibition at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts highlights that history. The exhibition “Pasadena: L.A.’s Art Legacy” presents 70 original pieces comprising paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures by nearly 60 artists. Hosted at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, located at 600 South Lake Avenue, Suite 102, the show has now been extended through Sept. 30.
Drawing directly from the gallery’s inventory, the featured items showcase a wide range of creators, including Ruth Weisberg, Francisco Goya, Man Ray, Henri Fantin-Latour, Diego Rivera, Sam Francis, Ed Ruscha, Marcel Duchamp, and Alexander Calder.
Every displayed piece features an accompanying label. This tag details the object’s provenance and highlights the specific year a Pasadena-area institution or museum hosted an exhibition featuring that artist.
The initiative originated when gallery owner Jack Rutberg began exploring the museum history of Pasadena, focusing on how local venues served as catalysts for introducing influential artists to the public.
“We took a deep dive into the exhibition histories of these local art institutions,”Rutberg said in an interview. “It proved revelatory.”
Rutberg noted that the show does not attempt to deliver an exhaustive historical account. Rather, it offers a broad overview reflecting both the gallery’s extensive inventory and the rich variety of art displayed throughout Pasadena over time.
According to the exhibition’s website, Pasadena has played an “outsized and yet seldom addressed role” in establishing Los Angeles as a prominent international art hub. Rutberg pointed out that although the area has historically possessed museums, art schools, and artists, it lacked a consistent commercial gallery landscape to support and complement the institutional programming.
The show highlights key local institutions, including the Pasadena Art Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Huntington, as central pillars of this artistic heritage. Additionally, it notes significant exhibitions hosted by the ArtCenter College of Design and Pasadena City College.
One featured piece is “Pasadena Bridge,” a 1948 oil painting by Hans Burkhardt.
Rather than depicting the local Colorado Street Bridge in the traditional realist style typically associated with it, Burkhardt rendered the landmark using a surrealist, expressionist approach.
Additionally, the presentation features “Bouquet of Flowers,” an 1887 oil painting by French artist Henri Fantin-Latour that was recently rediscovered. Rutberg is displaying the work publicly for the first time, shown together with a pair of original lithographs created by the artist.
The exhibition additionally underscores Alexander Calder’s early ties to the area, noting his residency in Pasadena between 1907 and 1909. Gallery records show that Calder’s father constructed a basement workshop for his youth, enabling the burgeoning artist to fashion initial sketches along with various creations constructed from wire and found media.
Furthermore, the presentation underscores the Pasadena Art Museum’s land-mark 1963 Marcel Duchamp retrospective, a historic gathering famously captured in Julian Wasser’s iconic photograph depicting the artist engaged in a chess match with Eve Babitz.
Rutberg said the project was also prompted by requests from colleagues, curators and museum professionals who encouraged him to document the history.
The result is a 176 page catalog available digitally for free. Rutberg said the catalog was created to provide the public with a record of the city’s art history.
“Books are the only things that last,”Rutberg said.
He described the digital catalog as “a history that they deserve,” adding that it is “their history.”
The works in the exhibition are all available for purchase, with prices ranging from about $400 to more than $500,000.
Rutberg said that range allows people with different means to participate in the history represented by the collection.
He also emphasized that the exhibition consists of original works rather than reproductions.
Rutberg noted that art extends far beyond mere luxury or virtual cultural engagement.
He characterized original works as “charged objects,” capable of fostering deep personal and emotional resonances among viewers and collectors alike.
After maintaining a presence on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles for nearly 38 years, Rutberg relocated his gallery to Pasadena in 2023. Since making the move, he noted a shift in his perception of the city, citing positive feedback from visitors who expressed gratitude for both the show and the gallery’s establishment in the area.
He aspires for the exhibition to inspire local community members to appreciate and embrace their deep ties to the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Visitors can view “Pasadena: L.A.’s Art Legacy” at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, located at 600 South Lake Avenue, Suite 102, Pasadena. The gallery welcomes the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free of charge, with parking accessible via the South Lake Avenue entrance.
The exhibition’s digital catalog is available through the gallery’s website at jackrutbergfinearts.com.