Pasadena Art Gallery Owner Awarded International Art Association/USA Lifetime Achievement Award

The International Art Association/USA announced its official formation and induction into the international body of L’Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques by bestowing its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Jack Rutberg of Jack Rutberg Fine Arts in Pasadena.

The award citation reads in part:

“For almost half a century, Jack Rutberg has profoundly enhanced the cultural life of Angelenos, with museum-quality exhibitions of important modern and contemporary European, American and Latin American artists. He is a generous educator, offering lectures and crafting essays that have elevated our understanding of the nature and historical context of many modern artists. His solo exhibitions are milestones in the cultural life of L.A. Jack is truly a legendary gallerist and a genuine Los Angeles treasure.”

Rutberg is well-known in the art world. His gallery has represented a broad range of important American and European artists since 1979 in Los Angeles and recently moved to Pasadena. In his capacity as a dealer, curator, and consultant for over 50 years, Rutberg has made significant contributions to the Modern and Contemporary art scene.

Rutberg has lectured on art-related subjects in colleges and universities, both in the U.S. and abroad. His passion for sharing his knowledge of art has extended beyond academic institutions and museums to numerous private and civic organizations. He has also appeared on radio and television, sharing his expertise with a broader audience. As a result of his many accomplishments, he has been featured and quoted in local, national, and international publications.

Rutberg has also served as a guest curator for several institutions both in the U.S. and abroad, and as a juror for several art invitationals. He has served on the boards of various art organizations, including the Art Dealers Association of California, Los Angeles Art Galleries (LAAG), the Committee For Cultural Tourism of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau (LACVB), and the Laguna Art Museum Collections Committee.

The Rutberg Gallery has been particularly noteworthy for its emphasis on education, presenting numerous lectures and panel discussions. Rutberg and his team have made the gallery an important resource for established and beginning collectors, art historians, and museums internationally. At its former La Brea Avenue location, the Rutberg Gallery featured exhibitions by gallery-represented artists, including Jordi Alcaraz, Hans Burkhardt, Patrick Graham, Reuben Nakian, George Nama, Ruth Weisberg, Jerome Witkin, and Francisco Zuniga, in addition to a wide range of solo exhibitions of major international artists, such as Alexander Calder, Oskar Fischinger, and Sam Francis.

Also honored by the IAA/USA were Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment, and Bedri Baykam, Turkish artist and retiring president of the international body.

The International Art Association/USA (IAA/USA) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the arts. It is a member of the International Association of Art (IAA/AIAP), which is an NGO working in official partnership with UNESCO.

The IAA/USA was founded in 1979 by a group of art professionals who were concerned about the lack of support for the arts in the United States. The organization’s mission is to promote the arts through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

The IAA/USA offers a variety of programs and services to support the arts, including:

• Educational programs for students, teachers, and the public
• Advocacy for the arts at the local, state, and federal levels
• Collaboration with other arts organizations to promote the arts

The IAA/USA is committed to making the arts accessible to everyone. Through its programs and services, the organization is working to create a more vibrant and inclusive arts community.