Conejo Valley Art Museum
Grand Opening Coming Soon!
The Conejo Valley Art Museum is a community-based institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation for art in all its forms while educating the public about the creative process. As the only art museum in the Conejo Valley, it serves as a vital cultural hub, aiming to elevate the level of creativity and awareness of art within the community. The museum's unique offerings include a diverse range of exhibitions, educational programs, and workshops designed to engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
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History
The Conejo Valley Art Museum, a non profit corporation, opened in 1978 with “Navajo Rugs” as its first exhibit in a donated space at the Janss Mall. The impetus for a museum in the Conejo was the successful Claire Falkenstein sculpture exhibit provided by the Arts Council Cultural Center in 1975.
About twenty artists, teachers, and business people organized CVAM in 1976. In its first five years the Museum presented 35 exhibits, including Prehistoric Indian Pottery, Guatemalan Folk art, California Landscapes of the twenties, and Early American and Contemporary Quilts. CVAM showed the work of Mark Tobey, Arthur Dove, Robert Rauchenberg, Tony Berlant, Christo, the photos of Edward Curtis, Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, and Walker Evans.
In 1985 the CVAM moved into a small space in the old Conejo Library (Wilbur building) at the City’s invitation. The Museum expanded to l600 sq. feet. in 1990. The Museum operated the Wilbur Gallery in an arrangement with other art groups, and with the City’s annual purchase award shows.
The CVAM continued to present six to seven shows a year, covering the arts of the East as well as the West. The Museum has hosted Serigraphy of the Fifties and Sixties, the National Watercolor Society, Society of Illustrators of LA, Potters, Vivika and Otto Heino, and other top names. The Museum presents lectures, films, and videos, classes and performance art. In the fall of 1990, CVAM presented an award winning film festival by Michael Hagopian.
In 1990 the City of Thousand Oaks sold the Wilbur Building. On a donated space of 5,000 sq. feet at the Janss Mall, and with the generosity of the Janss Corporation, the Museum was able to open March l0, 1991 with “Artists as Reporter”. This exhibit featured David Rose from Los Angeles, Howard Brodie from San Francisco (whose works are in the Library of Congress), and Elizabeth Williams of New York.
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While the Museum is no longer at the Janss Mall, we look forward to a new location sometime in the future. If you'd like to help the Museum with a location or other assistance, please reach out to us! We'd love to talk to you!
Past Exhibits
View our exhibits
The Conejo Valley Art Museum’s past exhibitions showcase a legacy of artistic excellence, highlighting a diverse range of styles, mediums, and voices. From local talents to renowned artists, each show has contributed to the museum’s mission of inspiring and enriching our community through the visual arts.
Renee Shapiro
Mayan Iconography
Interest in symbolism, ethnography, and ethnographic photography fueled Renee Shapiro's later exploration into Mayan and Orientalist North African art.
Iris Carignan
Reflections of Peace
Through vibrant impressionistic brushwork, Iris creates a peaceful yet emotionally stirring experience for the viewer. One admirer described her work as an "enigma," where bold expression meets quiet calm. This unique balance is quickly earning her the title of “painter of peace.”
