James D. Phelan Awards

The James D. Phelan Awards was a biennial art competition open to applicants who were between 20 and 40 years old and were born in California. In 1961, the jurors were the artist Donald Brewer, who was also the Director of the Art Center in La Jolla, the artist Ynez Johnston and the critic Jules Langsner. From over 200 entries, 2 sets of winners were selected, 5 who lived in Southern California and 5 in Northern California. This exhibition displayed the winners’ works alongside 30 other paintings selected by the jury.