Pasadena Museum Hidden Paintings
Pasadena Museum of History displays ~50 rarely seen paintings from its collection starting March 8. The exhibition showcases works that have been largely hidden from public view. The timing coincides with broader efforts to highlight overlooked art collections.
The "Pasadena Palette" exhibition draws from the museum's extensive holdings, separate from the well-known Fényes Painting Collection typically on view in the historic Fényes Mansion. This selection brings to light works that have been preserved behind the scenes, offering a different perspective on the institution's art collection. Since its founding in 1924 as the Pasadena Historical Society, the museum has amassed a collection of over one million items. The painting collection specifically includes works by notable plein air painters who were drawn to the California landscape. The exhibition's theme centers on paintings by artists who lived and worked in Pasadena, alongside portraits of prominent local figures and landscapes of the city itself. This provides a visual narrative of the area's artistic and cultural history through pieces that have largely been in storage. Running through December 2026, "Pasadena Palette" is one of three distinct exhibitions currently on view at the museum. It is presented alongside a retrospective on artist Cha-Rie Tang and "100 Years — 100 Images," a collaboration with the Pasadena Society of Artists for its centennial.
