Michele StuevenFrom Los Angeles to Catalina: The Art of Sonia Romero will be at The Catalina Museum of Art & History through Sunday, Oct. 12, an intimate and visually striking exhibition by celebrated LA-based artist Sonia Romero.
The exhibition features a curated selection of Romero’s silkscreen prints, paintings, and a brand-new site-specific work that captures the nostalgic charm and layered cultural history of Catalina Island.
Romero, widely recognized for her intricate paper-cutting, printmaking, and mixed-media paintings, spent the summer of 2024 in Avalon researching and connecting with the local community. Her time on the island included leading museum-hosted workshops and exploring the museum’s vast archive of vintage Catalina ephemera—from postcards to brochures and ticket stubs—gathering visual references and historical insight for this new body of work.
(Courtesy The Catalina Museum of Art & History)
“I’ve always been fascinated by vintage graphics and ephemera,” Romero said in a press release. “I spent two whole days poring over old postcards, brochures, and ticket stubs. It’s a wonderful way to understand how the story of Catalina has been told over the years.”
Deeply rooted in Chicano culture and shaped by the diverse landscapes of California, Romero’s work explores themes of identity, community, and the human connection to place. This exhibition marks the beginning of her ongoing exploration of Catalina Island, a journey sparked by her first visit to the island at the age of 14. With early sketches and plans for future works already underway, Romero intends to return to Avalon to continue expanding this evolving series.
“This is a deeply personal project for me,” she said.. “The island’s mix of glamour, grit, and history resonates with the way I tell stories through my art. This is only the beginning.”
Visitors to the Catalina Museum of Art & History will be the first to witness the launch of this new series, a heartfelt visual dialogue between artist and island that celebrates both memory and imagination.
Romero’s practice bridges fine art and public art, with a focus on cultural identity and collective experience. She is known for her bold visual style and signature printmaking techniques, often blending traditional Chicano motifs with contemporary design. Her work is featured in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, among others. Romero has also completed more than 13 large-scale public art commissions across the West Coast, including the acclaimed murals at Mariachi Plaza and Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro Stations.
Sacred Heart (Courtesy The Catalina Museum of Art & History)