Art Stars
Wheel of Foot in Mouth No. 3 (Song of Sappho) by Kathryn Andrews
Written by Joan Tapper
Fifty years is a worthy milestone, and the MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SANTA BARBARA (MCASB)—founded in 1976 by artists for artists—is marking the occasion with the presentation of its 2026 Annual Art Awards on July 12. That event not only raises crucial operating funds for the nonprofit institution, says Frederick Janka, president of the board of trustees, but also “is celebrating the past, present, and future of the museum and our impact on art history.” This year’s honorees for artistic excellence are Kathryn Andrews, Sanford Biggers, Tonia Calderon, and Mark Swanson, while Hamza Walker is being feted for his curatorial excellence and arts leadership. For the established artists like Biggers and Swanson, “MCASB offered early and critical support with solo exhibitions and their first publications,” Janka says, adding that both have gone on to open major midcareer shows. Looking forward, MCASB will collaborate with Andrews on public programs in the future and is also committed to a solo exhibition for emerging talent Calderon. 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, mcasantabarbara.org
