Sonoma Valley Museum of Art

09/29/2026

What a wonderful evening celebrating the opening of The Real-Life Art History of M. Louise Stanley!

Thank you to everyone who joined us to support M. Louise Stanley and celebrate this remarkable exhibition. We’re especially grateful to our generous exhibition sponsors, whose support helped make this exhibition possible.

A huge thank you as well to our dedicated volunteers and our amazing installation crew for all the work that happens behind the scenes to bring an exhibition like this to life.

There is so much to discover in M. Louise Stanley’s witty, imaginative, and wonderfully detailed work—you’ll want to see this exhibition more than once!

The Real-Life Art History of M. Louise Stanley is on view at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art through January 24, 2027.

09/28/2026

"The marvelous new show at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, The Real-Life Art History of M. Louise Stanley, is huge in every sense of the word."

Currently at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art By Anna Pier The marvelous new show at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, The Real-Life Art History of M. Louise Stanley, is huge in every sense of the word. This grand collection of the petite artist’s works is from 1991 to the present. It offers giant canva...

09/22/2026

Here’s a glimpse at just some of the work that goes into transforming our galleries for a new exhibition. From unpacking and positioning artworks to hanging, lighting, and making those final adjustments, installation week is always an exciting time at the Museum.
We’re now ready to welcome you to "The Real-Life Art History of M. Louise Stanley", an exhibition filled with Lulu Stanley’s wit, imagination, and wonderfully distinctive take on art history and her own life experiences.
Join us for the Opening Reception this Saturday, September 26, from 5–7 PM and be among the first to see the finished exhibition!
Register in advance at svma.org. See less

09/20/2026

Exciting news for public art in Sonoma! Artist Peter Hassen’s monumental sculpture Cycles #3 will soon have a permanent home on Sonoma Plaza. The work, which many may remember from SVMA’s A Delicate Balance public art exhibition, explores biodiversity, the passage of time, and our relationship with the natural world. Read more about this important addition to Sonoma’s cultural landscape.

By Connie Schielein In a milestone for public art, the City of Sonoma has officially accepted the donation of its first permanent monumental public sculpture by a local artist. Created by distinguished artist Peter Hassen, Cycles #3 is a striking 96-inch Corten steel artwork, featuring three interse...

09/14/2026

We’re getting excited to present the work of M. Louise Stanley at SVMA!

During our visits to Lulu’s studio, she delighted us with stories of her adventures and gave us glimpses into her wonderful sketchbooks and creative process. We can’t wait to share some of that experience with you.

"The Real Life Art History of M. Louise Stanley" brings together photographs, sketchbooks, studies, finished paintings, and sculptures from Stanley’s personal archives and Bay Area collections. Together, they reveal the real-life experiences and escapades behind her work—and offer a fascinating look at how an idea travels from lived experience to sketchbook to finished artwork.

📅 On view September 19, 2026–January 24, 2027

🥂 Opening Reception: Saturday, September 26, 5–7 PM
Join us at SVMA to celebrate the exhibition! Advance registration is recommended at svma.org.

09/10/2026

SVMA is proud to be part of a community where the arts thrive—and we’re delighted to help spread the word about the 2026 Sonoma Plein Air Festival, happening September 14–19.

Take a look at this wonderful video, The Art Detectives, for a glimpse at the creativity and impact behind Sonoma Plein Air.

Head to Sonoma Plaza on Saturday, September 19, from 10 AM–4 PM for the free Art Show & Sale. 40% of painting sales support K–12 art education in Sonoma Valley. More info at https://www.sonomapleinair.com/

In this video that made its debut at the Sonoma Plein Air Foundatio...

09/10/2026

Sonoma Tribune features upcoming exhibition at SVMA!

Bay Area artist M. Louise Stanley will be honored with a retrospective, “The Real-Life Art History of M. Louise Stanley,” at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, running Sept. 19 through Jan. 24, 2027.

09/03/2026

We’ve been blown away by the creativity of our visitors! ❤️

Throughout our summer exhibitions, we invited visitors to add to SVMA’s Interactive Community Tapestry, sharing the ways they express their authentic selves—or how they would like to be remembered.

The response was incredible. The tapestry grew into a colorful, moving collection of words, ideas, memories, and personal expressions, beautifully reflecting themes explored in our two summer exhibitions.

Thank you to everyone who added their voice and creativity. We love seeing what happens when the Museum becomes a space not only to experience art, but to become part of it.