When you think of Carmel, what comes to mind? Beautiful beaches, the charming downtown, storybook cottages, a vibrant restaurant scene, golf at Pebble Beach, hiking in Point Lobos or Carmel Valley, or the breathtaking drive along the iconic Big Sur coast? All of these are amazing options, but one thing that’s always been a part of Carmel is its arts culture. It all started when Carmel was a rustic retreat removed from the city, where artists, poets, actors, musicians, and writers could come and relax and create.
Carmel’s cornerstone fine art gallery, the Carmel Art Association, will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2027. Jurying into the Carmel Art Association as an Artist Member has been a real honor. It is also a great way to help support a diverse community of inspiring artists. But I also wanted to create a smaller gallery that would focus on modernist and contemporary artists, to showcase the unique and stimulating abstract work that is being created on the Monterey Peninsula.
In April of 2025, I opened Carmel Modern with just two artists, Lucas Blok and myself. As we continue to make a name for ourselves in Carmel’s colorful art landscape, we will continue to support and host other local artists. We’ve since added Tracey Adams and Jim Dultz, and each artist has created unique and complementary work. The response from the community and collectors, both here and far away, has been really positive.
We have exciting things planned for the coming months and years. We’ll be hosting seasonal and special exhibits from time to time, like the show we’re having this September for Tracey Adams, which will show off the breadth and depth of her work on paper. In November, we’re having a more ambitious show called Winter Light, which will feature 14 artists and run through the end of the year. These special exhibits will give us the chance to showcase a wider range of artists and highlight the best of the region, all of whom are producing exciting and engaging work.
Carmel Modern is a welcoming gallery space that’s perfect for taking your time to appreciate the art. Some visitors enjoy taking a seat in the gallery just to admire the artwork. It’s a flexible space that we’ve used for special events like wine tastings and hosted dinners for special occasions, making them even more memorable thanks to the beautiful art surrounding us. If you’re planning a special event, think of us.
It’s been less than a year since we opened, but I’m thrilled with the response and encouraged by seeing repeat visitors and collectors. Feel free to drop by whenever you’re in town or if you just happen to be passing by on your way to pick up your mail at the post office. We’d love to meet you!
Warm regards,
John Cromwell
Founder & Artist