Members of Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund treated to a preview of an exclusive art evening in La Jolla

A members-only cocktail reception and preview of The Presence in Paint Exhibition was held at a private La Jolla estate, where Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund (RSFWF) member Ryan Campbell Garrett, founder of RCG Art Advisory, hosted her fellow members to an evening of art, conversation and community, according to a news release.

Women’s Fund Member Robin Fantin commented in the news release: “Ryan’s La Jolla gathering was a masterclass in hospitality and art. The home and collection were simply stunning, and her generosity in hosting a private viewing for our Women’s Fund gave us rare, unrushed time with the work. Glass in hand, lively conversation, and plenty of inspiration. Many of us left newly energized about collecting.”

Curated by RCG Art Advisory, the exhibition featured 16 distinguished contemporary artists: Merrick Adams, Caroline Denervaud, Kristen Diederich, Maja Dlugolecki, Ryan Dobrowski, Sophia Flood, Rema Ghuloum, Kristen Giorgi, Glenn Goldberg, Zoe Koke, Brian Lotti, Dashiell Manley, Holly Osborne, Rebecca Partridge, and Tessa Greene O’Brien. Through a range of abstract, atmospheric, and figurative works, the exhibition explored the relationships between perception, memory, and the natural environment. Transformed into a refined art experience, the residence exemplified the advisory’s vision of creating meaningful, immersive engagements with contemporary art.

A highlight of the evening was an engaging artist talk with Merrick Adams, who discussed how his printmaking background informs his distinctive painting process. Adams, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, developed his current technique during the pandemic, using industrial netting to push and filter paint through layers of pigment, creating dynamic, textural compositions that blur the line between control and chance, the news release stated.

RCG Art Advisory is a premier art advisory that brings museum-level expertise and access to Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, and surrounding communities. With over three decades of combined experience across leading institutions, including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams, Artsy, the firm provides discerning clients with strategic guidance in acquiring, curating, and managing fine art collections. The team has deep knowledge spanning postwar masters to today’s most compelling contemporary voices, with a particular focus on women artists and the thriving California art scene.

Through private acquisitions, collection management, and curated exhibitions in architecturally significant settings, RCG Art Advisory offers clients access to internationally significant artworks and a global network of artists, galleries, and institutions. By presenting thoughtfully curated exhibitions in nontraditional venues, the firm is expanding access to world-class art while cultivating a vibrant cultural dialogue within Southern California’s most dynamic communities, according to the news release.

The event underscored the value of Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund membership, which offers opportunities for members to connect through meaningful cultural experiences while supporting philanthropic initiatives that make a lasting impact, the news release stated.