The Art Star Awards is an annual award ceremony hosted by the Laguna Beach Art Alliance to recognize excellence in outstanding achievements and contributions in the arts in Laguna Beach. The award categories are Best Arts Program, Arts Patron of the Year, Outstanding Arts Collaboration and Artist of the Year. A special award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts is also presented. The various category winners are given one-of-a-kind sculptures (Louies) created by local artist and celebrity Louis Longi. The Louies are created specifically for the Art Star Awards with no molds or editions. The awards ceremony was first held on March 21, 2007, and featured guest speaker Robert Lynch, Americans for the Arts President and CEO. Since then, keynote speakers have included Donald McKayle, Michael Ramirez, Wylie Aitken, Lee Rocker, Dana Gioia, Rita Rudner, Carl St. Clair, Joe Mantegna, Joely Fisher, Marcia Gay Harden and Melissa Manchester.
2025 ART STAR AWARDS
FESTIVAL OF ARTS
Highlights and award winners
On Wednesday, April 23, in true Academy-award style, over 170 community and cultural leaders came together to celebrate the 17th annual Art Star Awards. Held on the Festival of Arts grounds, the reception and ceremony treated guests to a festive evening filled with KXFM 104.7’s Rockin’ Red Carpet, live music by Laguna JaZz, and art demonstrations by artists from Laguna College of Art + Design and the Sawdust Festival, all complimented by prosecco donated by Benvolio Italia and hors d’oeuvres by Starfish.
The program featured emcee Chris Quilter and LBAA members who announced the award winners.
The 2025 Art Star Award recipients are:
Jean Stern
Laguna Art Museum – Creative Foundations K-12 Education Program
Faye & Wayne Baglin
Laguna College of Art + Design, GroupY and Rivian – Creativity Flow
Adam Neeley
Photos by Eric Stoner.
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
Laguna Beach Arts Alliance is open to all non-profit 501(c)(3) art-orientated organizations located in Laguna Beach.
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
P.O. Box 828
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
