Stephen Mirich: Stand by Me

September 12 – November 14, 2026

ARTIST TALK: Saturday, September 26, 1-3 pm

Docent tours Tuesday and Saturday from 10am to 12 noon; group tours available on request. Contact gphinney@pvart.org for details.

Palos Verdes Art Center / Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Education Education is pleased to present Stand by Me, a retrospective exhibition celebrating noted plein air painter, Stephen Mirich.

Mirich explains, “Painting has taught me that seeing is more than looking—it is an act of quiet attention. Working directly from nature has taught me patience. The landscape is never still. Rather than simply recording what I see, I hope to express what it feels like to be present.”

Stephen Mirich was born in San Pedro and continues to live and paint near the California coast. He first received artistic recognition as a member of the American Society of Marine Artists and is on the advisory board of the California Art Club. He is also past-president of the San Pedro Art Association. In 1997, Mirich co-founded the Portuguese Bend Artist Colony, whose exhibitions have helped promote land conservation and support the preservation of Southern California’s open spaces through art.

See the on-line exhibition catalog HERE.

ARTIST STATEMENT

This exhibition brings together both recent and earlier paintings, offering a glimpse into my continuing journey as an artist. Together, these works reflect not only the places I have painted, but an evolving way of seeing and sensing the world around me.

Painting has taught me that seeing is more than looking—it is an act of quiet attention.

Working directly from nature has taught me patience. The landscape is never still. Rather than simply recording what I see, I hope to express what it feels like to be present—to experience the quiet rhythm and beauty of the natural world.  Again and again, I find myself drawn to those moments when the landscape reveals its quiet character that transforms a familiar place into something entirely new:  The subtle shift of atmosphere, light changes, shadows move, clouds gather and disappear, and every passing breeze alters the feeling of a place. These fleeting moments are often overlooked, yet they are the ones that continue to inspire my work.

My invitation to you is simple. Stand beside me for a moment. Slow down. Look carefully. Allow yourself to experience the landscape as I have experienced it. In doing so, perhaps these paintings will encourage you not only to see the beauty before you, but also to discover a deeper sense of reflection within yourself.If these works inspire a greater appreciation for the beauty of our undisturbed landscapes and awaken a deeper compassion for the world around us, then they have fulfilled one of the reasons they were painted.

Every painting in this exhibition represents a moment along my artistic journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to share that journey with you and hope these paintings offer not only something to look at, but an invitation to see.

Stephen Mirich

This exhibition is made possible, in part, by generous support from–