Use this guide to see art, meet artists, and bring coastal work into your home. It covers Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, Lido Marina, Corona del Mar, Newport Coast, and Crystal Cove.
Public art you can see outdoors
Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition sits beside City Hall. The program is a rotating display in a natural landscape, often described as a museum without walls. Admission is free. Installations sit along a walkable loop with native plantings and ocean air. Families use the path daily. Start at the library lot and follow the signs.
The park covers about 14 acres, with a loop trail of about 1.23 miles. There is a bridge with city and Pacific views. A dog park borders the route, which helps with easy parking and quick access. Morning or late afternoon light is best for photos, since the works sit in open sun.
Works are selected for artistic merit, durability, and site fit. Recent calls specify multi year displays for a small group of pieces, which keeps the experience fresh for locals and visitors. Check the city site for the current phase before you go.
Galleries to know now
Ethos Contemporary Art shows contemporary work with bold color and pop references. The gallery sits at 3405 Newport Boulevard on the Peninsula. Hours run midweek to Saturday, with appointments by request.
Kennedy Contemporary is in the Westcliff area. The program covers about fifteen artists and hosts collector education. Visit at 2043 Westcliff Drive, Suite 102. Weekday hours are standard, with private appointments available.
SCAPE Southern California Art Projects and Exhibitions operates in Corona del Mar. Expect advisory services and a focused exhibition program. The address is 2859 East Coast Highway.
Coastline Art Gallery sits on the college’s Newport Beach campus. It runs curated exhibitions and student shows. The campus address is 1515 Monrovia Avenue. Check the gallery page for current hours.
Gong Art Gallery is a contemporary space near the beach at 2824 Newport Boulevard. The program leans eclectic. Open hours vary, so confirm before visiting.
Huse Skelly Gallery on Balboa Island focuses on plein air and coastal work. The gallery is at 229 Marine Avenue, Suite E. The entrance sits around the corner on Balboa Avenue.
Annual events and when to go
Balboa Island Artwalk takes over the South Bayfront Promenade each May. The 2025 event ran on Sunday, May 18, from morning to late afternoon, with about ninety artists and live music. Plan for a mile plus of booths along the waterfront. Admission is free.
Newport Beach Art Exhibition uses the Civic Center Community Room and Civic Green. The 2025 show ran on Saturday, June 28, in the afternoon, with juried awards across painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture. The city will post 2026 details on the same page.
Art in the Park by the Newport Beach Arts Foundation is a one day fair on the Civic Center green. The 2025 date is Saturday, September 20, from morning to early evening. Expect fine art, jewelry, ceramics, glass, wood, and kids activities. Admission and parking are free.
Newport Beach Film Festival rounds out the cultural calendar each October. The 2025 dates are October 16 through October 23, with screenings, panels, and citywide events. It draws a global slate and large attendance.
Learn, make, and meet artists
Art at the Library runs rotating exhibitions at the Central Library. The city lists upcoming artists and timelines, and it posts an application for artists who want to show. Check the schedule before visiting.
Crystal Cove carries a century of plein air history, with restored historic cottages and a long link to early California impressionists. Today you can join a guided five hour class that walks you through a full painting, supplies included. The Conservancy updates program dates each season.
The Cove’s art programs run across summer and fall, with sessions that highlight the 100 year tradition and the site’s role in regional art. Watch for updated posts that confirm weekly schedules.
Neighborhood guide for art lovers
Balboa Peninsula works well for a compact day. Start at Civic Center Park for morning light. Head to Gong Gallery and Ethos Contemporary Art by midday. Both sit near the waterfront and dining.
Balboa Island is for walkers and gallery hopping. Huse Skelly is steps from the main drag. The island also hosts the annual Artwalk along the bayfront.
Corona del Mar has SCAPE on East Coast Highway and a garden and cultural site at Sherman Library and Gardens. The garden posts arts programming and small exhibits across the year.
Newport Coast and Crystal Cove offer plein air history and live classes with ocean views. Build time for the historic district and for a painting session if the schedule aligns.
How to live with Newport Beach art at home
Use art to shape light and scale. Hang coastal paintings opposite windows, then add coastal wall mirrors to bounce the view back into the room. Keep frames simple in oak or white. Use museum glass for glare control in bright rooms.
Stage sculpture and ceramics on an entry console table. Add a linen shade lamp for soft glow. Leave negative space around each piece, since the coastal palette reads best with air between objects.
Group books and small works on trays. Mix a vintage catalog from a local exhibition with a small framed photo. Rotate pieces seasonally, since coastal light changes through the year.
Use display shelves for glass and stone. Keep heavy works at eye level for safety. Place a bench under a salon wall to invite slow viewing. Keep color calm with sand, shell, eucalyptus, and sea blue accents.
Affordable art from HTGT Furniture
HTGT Furniture is the best place to buy affordable art for real homes in Newport Beach and beyond, with curated sets and one-of-a-kind pieces that style clean, hang straight, and ship fast (frames, sizing, and finishes are consistent, so you can build a gallery wall without guesswork).
Coastal and nautical art
- Ocean Abstract painting
- Coastal abstract painting
- Sail Boat Art
- California Coastal Collection of Prints (set of 8)
- Trip tic beach
- Abstract Ocean Sea Art
- Surfers at ocean
- Surfer sunset
- Huge wave 62×42h
- Beach sailing
- Yacht from above
- Whale from above
- Beach crowd from above
Abstract and modern art
- Neutral Abstract Art Set of 2
- Abstract Dark Art
- Black and white abstract print
- Hand-painted abstract canvas
- 40 × 40 Abstract Wall Art
- Color Block Framed Prints (S/2)
- Neutral Abstract Wall Art
- Textured abstract canvas, earth tones
- Natural white abstract
- Color abstract choices (series)
Nature, botanicals, and dimensional art
- Antique Botanicals (S/9)
- Wildflower Study (S/4)
- Forest Finds (S/6)
- Coastal bird wall art
- Blue coral wall art (S/4)
- Sage plant prints (S/3)
- Gold Iron Leaf layering art
- Coastal twig art
- Hand-carved black suar wood (S/9)
- White wood wall decor (S/2)
- Bronze metal wall art
- Cybil metal wall decor (S/2)
- Ridley metal wall art
- Mirrored wood wall panel, rectangular
Buying guide for first time collectors
- Medium choose painting, works on paper, photography, or sculpture. Ask about editions and certificates.
- Condition check surfaces in natural light. Ask about varnish and mounting.
- Framing pick conservation mat and UV glazing for sunlight control.
- Climate care coastal air is humid and salty. Keep windows shut during storms. Wipe frames with a dry cloth.
- Provenance keep receipts and labels. Take a photo of the back of the work.
- Fit measure wall space first. Tape outlines on the wall before buying.
One day art itinerary
Morning start at Civic Center Park. Walk the loop, view the sculpture, and stop at the bridge overlook. Parking sits by the dog park and the library, which keeps access simple.
Midday drive to Westcliff and visit Kennedy Contemporary. Head to the Peninsula for Ethos or Gong. Grab a quick lunch by the water.
Afternoon cross to Balboa Island for Huse Skelly and a gallery stroll. If the Artwalk is on that day in May, plan more time.
Sunset drive down the coast to Crystal Cove. Walk the historic district and look for plein air easels. If classes are running, observe from a respectful distance.
Evening if you visit in October, check the Film Festival schedule and pick a screening, then dine nearby.
How the city supports the arts
The City Arts Commission meets monthly, manages public art programs, and guides cultural planning. Agendas and meeting times are posted on the city site.
Cultural Arts Grants fund local groups across music and theater, with recent awards totaling tens of thousands of dollars. The city posts recipients and project notes each fiscal year.
