Past Exhibitions

In 1999, the Monterey Museum of Art presented The Persistence of Color, an innovative exhibition curated by artists Jeffrey Becom and Lucas Blok that explored the multifaceted nature of color. Through a blend of photography, painting, and immersive installations, the exhibition examined how color shapes our perceptions. As the 25th anniversary of The Persistence of Color approaches, the Museum revisits and expands on the original themes of the exhibition. This new iteration, The Persistence of Color II, examines the artists' current explorations of color, featuring collaborative, interactive installations that engage visitors with reflective, projected, and transparent color. The renewed exhibition will offer an immersive experience that underscores the enduring power of color in art and perception.

About the Artists

Jeffrey Becom is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in architecture. As a writer, designer, visual anthropologist, photographer, and painter for over 40 years, Becom's artistic sensibilities have stood squarely in the colorist realm. With his partner, Sally Aberg, he has authored two award-winning photography books, Mediterranean Color and Maya Color: The Painted Villages of Mesoamerica. He is the subject of a PBS/BBC documentary entitled For the Colors, A Journey Through Italy. His artwork has been featured in over 100 solo and group exhibitions. Becom's work is held in private and public collections worldwide. Since 1990, Becom's photographs have been represented locally by the Weston Gallery in Carmel. His paintings are represented exclusively by the historic Carmel Art Association where he currently serves as President of the Board of Directors.

Lucas Blok's artwork is a dance with color. Surrendering to the rhythm and flow of his paintings invites a participatory experience. His paintings allow us to both find and lose ourselves in the haze of an unrelenting, pulsating color. With an extensive body of work, Blok's paintings are in the collections of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, Crocker Museum of Art in Sacramento, Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, Monterey Museum of Art, Museum of Design, Art and Architecture in Culver City, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, and St. Francis Hospital, San Francisco.

Support for this exhibition provided by Harriet (Incy) Brooks and Lynn and Michael Hayford

Top: Jeffrey Becom (b. 1953), Pink Door, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India, 2008, archival pigment print, 30 x 45 in. Courtesy of Weston Gallery © Jeffrey Becom 

Bottom: Lucas Blok (b. 1950), 7-1-18, 2018, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 84 in. Courtesy of the artist © Lucas Blok