This Seventh Biennial Grandparent Portrait Show contains almost 190 portraits, in various media, of grandparents or beloved elders.  The art work was created by art students from most of the local junior and senior public high schools during this year of online instruction. Public School Art Teachers were invited to select 20 portraits from all of their classes. All entries are displayed here on our online show.

The exhibit was juried by retired Art Teacher John Houchin who viewed images of all the entries and selected fourteen award-winning portraits and three honorable mentions.  Those seventeen images are featured on our award winners’ gallery. The fourteen award-winning portraits will be displayed in the State Street store window of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art during the entire month of June.

We thank the teachers who have continued to offer excellent art instruction during COVID, our website designer Lynda Rae, and the Museum of Art for the public display.

The 2021 Exhibition Gallery

Almost 190 student artists submitted their work in 2021 which are included in our online exhibition. From these, 14 finalists were selected by the juror to be displayed in the State Street store window of the Santa Barbara Art Museum during the entire month of June. You can view all of the pieces in the 2021 online exhibition here.

The 2021 Award Winners

Seventeen Awards, including three honorable mentions, were made to outstanding entries through a formal jury process, sponsored by area businesses and individuals, with the Best of Show Award provided by Santa Barbara Beautiful. View the award-winning artwork here, and be sure to see the exhibit in the storefront window of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art throughout June.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Santa Barbara Beautiful

was the major sponsor for the exhibit, including the $450 Best of Show Prize.

Thirteen Awards of Merit for $150 to the student artists were sponsored by:

Deborah Ferguson, Janice Lorber, Kris and Manor Buck, Helena Hill, The Stout Family, Marion Toms, Sally and Mark Hamilton, Linda and Richard Ring, Marjorie Palonen, The Rogers Family, Linda Love in memory of Audie Love, La Arcada Plaza and Gwen Taylor Dawson. 

Their sponsorships also included $50 to the teachers of the award-winning students.

Thank you to the Education Department of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art for setting up the display.