Long Beach Museum of Art

Crafted Beauty: The Lipton Family Gift to LBMA

The Long Beach Museum of Art has a long-standing tradition of showcasing artists working with wood as their primary medium. In celebration of the Museum’s 75-year exhibition history, the complete collection of 45 woodworks donated in 2009 by Dr. Irving and Mari Lipton—renowned collectors of contemporary wood art—will be on display.

Dr. Lipton’s passion for wood art began in 1972 when he purchased his first piece, a jewelry box by Michael Graham, at the Westwood Art Fair for 35 dollars. This acquisition ignited a lifelong pursuit, leading him to assemble one of the most significant collections of postwar woodwork. The exhibition highlights masterful works by influential artists such as Bob Stocksdale, Frank E. Cummings, Ron Kent, Hayley and Todd Hoyer, Brenda Behrens, and others.

Featured Artwork: Victor Wood, Ascent Series, Lidded Container, 1995, Fiddleback blackwood, pink ivory, Gift of Peter Lipton and Candace Lipton Kopel 2009.62.a.b

Preserving Progress: WPA Masterpieces and Colonel Charles L. Heartwell Gifts

The Long Beach Museum of Art is thrilled to showcase an exploration of artistic resilience and community enrichment through a selection of works from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project. Established in 1935 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, this landmark initiative provided vital support to artists during the Great Depression, fostering the creation of hundreds of thousands of artworks nationwide. These pieces not only sustained artists but also captured the spirit of the era, preserving a visual record of American life. This exhibition is further enriched by generous gifts from Col. Charles L. Heartwell, the first president of the Long Beach Water Department’s board of water commissioners, whose contributions helped shape the museum’s permanent collection.

Featured Artwork: Maurice Braun, Mountain Ranch, Oil on Canvas, 24 ¼ x 29 ¼ inches, Gift from Colonel L. Heartwell 60-1.138

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