Past Exhibitions

As the year draws to a close and we celebrate the grand finale of our exhibition season, the Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) proudly presents Iluminado—an invitation to become part of a living and growing art installation.

Central to Iluminado is a mesmerizing series of artful trees created by local artists: Edi Matsumoto, Elizabeth Murray, Mark Schlegel, JP Frary, and Sea Sevilla and Avelino Sanher of La Neta Murals. More than mere installations, these trees serve as dynamic canvases, capturing the diverse voices of our community. Within Iluminado, visitors are not simply spectators. You are collaborators invited to help shape the exhibition through engaging art prompts that nurture creativity, reflection, and connection. With every visitor's addition, the trees evolve in stature and meaning, contributing to the shared memories and aspirations of the community.

But the engagement doesn't end there. MMA is set to launch a series of programs for adults, students, and families. Whether it's our Free Family Fun Day, school tours, a Winter Art Market, or the Winter Solstice Celebration, December promises to be a vibrant month at MMA.

Iluminado marks not just a new chapter for MMA but signifies a transformative view of art and its role in space and community. Join us in this seasonal celebration of unity, creativity, and wonder.

About the Artists

Edi Matsumoto, a graduate in anthropology from Tsukuba University, Japan, traveled extensively in Southeast Asia and volunteered in Calcutta before settling in the U.S. She later pursued nursing and served as an RN for 30 years. Transitioning to the arts, she obtained a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, in 2018. Matsumoto's acclaimed artworks have graced galleries and museums globally, earning features in top art magazines. She holds distinctions as an A.R.C. Living Artist™ and an American Women Artists Member.

Elizabeth Murray is a painter, photographer, bestselling author, and storyteller in Monterey, California. She is known for her great love of the natural world — especially trees. Her passion has led her around the world, working in the Amazon to cultivating Monet's gardens in Giverny, France, and writing seven award-winning books.

Born in 1948 in Palo Alto, California, Mark Schlegel's life has been deeply intertwined with redwoods. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture from San Jose State University and began crafting redwood tables with driftwood from Carmel and Big Sur. While Mark pursued a successful landscaping business in Carmel Valley, he maintained his passion for redwood artistry. Intrigued by the rare "ripplewood" grain, he painstakingly collected it over three decades, evolving into a master craftsman of ripplewood tables and sculptures. Now, nearing retirement, Mark dedicates more time to sharing his exquisite redwood creations with the world.

JP Frary has been making things in the SF Bay Area since 1991. He has specialized in using recycled materials to create functional and artistic furniture and sculptures inspired by nature. He is also a storyteller who has won 8 Moth StorySlams and can be heard on KQED's BayCurious and The California Report. Frary has been a featured performer at Stage Werx, Beyond Borders, StorySlam Oakland, The Brava Theater, and The Naked Truth.

Avelino Sanher-Hernandez is a local, Bay Area artist. Born and raised in Mexico City, Avelino grew up influenced by artists in his community and began creating art at a very young age. His work is inspired by "life's moments." Having lived half of his life in Mexico and half in the United States, his bicultural perspective produces bold, energetic, and colorful pieces. He has many artworks on display in Silicon Valley, including the Chicano Center at Stanford University, popular fine dining restaurants, and casual taquerias, exemplifying his philosophy that art should be accessible to all. Avelino uses different techniques and has never attended art school.

Sea Sevilla, a dynamic Mexican American and queer multimedia artist, hails from Seaside. An alumna of Humboldt State University, she majored in Art Education and Art Studio, honing her skills in Sculpture and Photography. After graduation, Sea relocated to the Monterey Peninsula to delve into sculpture. At the Monterey Sculpture Center, she collaborated with global artists, notably assisting Steven Whyte on San Francisco's "Comfort Women Memorial." Over recent years, her artistic journey steered towards painting.

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