About Yosemite Renaissance
Yosemite Renaissance was founded in 1984 by the Yosemite Art Guild, a consortium of local Yosemite landscape artists. Their mission... “to motivate artists to develop diverse interpretations of Yosemite and its varied landscapes.” Since then, more than 4800 artists have participated in Yosemite Renaissance programs, setting the bar for creative excellence and inspiration in the Yosemite area.
Annual Competition and Traveling Exhibition
Yosemite Renaissance 31 (2016) Exhibit at the Yosemite National Park Museum
Warmth - Oil painting by Carolyn Hesse-Low
Artists from around the country have been showcased in Yosemite Renaissance’s annual exhibit, featuring artwork depicting Yosemite and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains.
For 35 years the exhibit opened in February at the Yosemite Museum in Yosemite National Park. In 2020 and 2021 the museum closed due to the Covid pandemic, but the traveling exhibit continued, hosted by Yosemite Gateway Art Center, Kings Art Center, Carnegie Arts Center and Madera Arts Council Circle Gallery.
In 2022 the exhibit will return to the Yosemite Museum, its traditional home, in October. We look forward to celebrating in the heart of Yosemite Valley once again!
Towzers Akimbo - 2017 Yosemite Renaissance Artist in Residence
Artists-In-Residence Program
Yosemite Renaissance also manages an Artists In Residence (AIR) program, formerly administered by the National Park Service. We have been honored to host an incredible array of artists over the years.
Currently, the Artists-in-Residence Program is by invitation only, but we hope to open the program to general applications again soon. Please refrain from sending queries or portfolios at this time, as we will not be taking these into consideration. However, if you are interested in participating in this program, please do sign up to be on our email list (see below). This will be the easiest way for us to keep you updated on upcoming developments.
Yosemite Renaissance Board of Directors
The Yosemite Renaissance Board of Directors is made up of local artists and art-lovers in the Yosemite community.
Executive Director: Jonathan W Bock
President: Evan Russel
Treasurer: Carol Moses
Secretary: Alison Grove
Seated Board Members: Betty Tikker Davis, Charlotte Gibb
Incoming Board Member: TBD
A Note from our Director
"It has been forty years since Yosemite Renaissance was founded, and eight years since I joined the organization. It has been an exciting time. We have survived the slings and arrows of the Covid pandemic, political turmoil, drought and wildfire. Through it all, we have maintained our vision, celebrating life, nature and our parks through art.
It is a great joy to share the artwork of the many talented artists who participate in Yosemite Renaissance, to better understand their work and their motivation, and to get to know them as people. It is an honor to be involved with this exciting exhibit, and to have the opportunity to inspire and enrich the lives of so many through art.
Thank you to all the artists who have participated over the past three decades. Thank you Mariposa County, Madera County, and the National Park Service for your support. I am truly grateful for the many artists, volunteers and donors who have supported Yosemite Renaissance for so many years. Thank You!"
Jonathan Bock, Director 2016 - 2024
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit benefit corporation, currently supported in part by funds and services from:
Stay In Touch!
If you are interested in receiving updates on Yosemite Renaissance programs, sign up to receive emails below (we don’t send many, and will never give out your information), or find us on Facebook.
You can also contact us:
By email: info@yosemiterenaissance.org
By phone: 559-683-5551
Yosemite Renaissance
PO Box 767
Yosemite, CA 95389