After being extended an additional week, the 35th Annual Children’s Book Illustrator Exhibition – hosted by Hayward’s Sun Gallery came to a close on Friday May 29th 2026.
The 35th Annual Children’s Book Illustrator Exhibition hosted by the Sun Gallery in Hayward California celebrated 30 Years of Tiger’s Tale and featured art from Patrick Lugo’s overall body of work.
Pieces Included
- Six original watercolors from the award winning picture-book Little Monk & the Mantis.
- Wrestling Dragons: ink on treated skateboarddeck.
- Printed comic pages from the MMC grant winninggraphic novel A Tiger’s Tale volume 1.
- Original brush ink artwork, pages from A Tiger’sTale.
- 2 original water-colors: cover art for A Tiger’s Tale.
- An assortment of other pieces, original inks andgallery prints of digital illustrations.
For those of you who missed the chance to see this work in person – a guided video tour…
But there’s More!
Celebrations continue with an additional stop for select pieces from A Tiger’s Tale. Now on display at California Dreamin’, a vibrant new group exhibition celebrating the beauty, diversity, and creative spirit of California through the eyes of local artists and young emerging creators. The exhibition brings together a dynamic collection of artwork inspired by the landscapes, culture, dreams, and stories that make California unique.
From bold abstract paintings and mixed-media works to imaginative sculpture and expressive contemporary pieces, California Dreamin’ invites visitors to explore what California means on both a personal and collective level. The exhibition showcases the work of talented local artists from across the community, each offering their own interpretation of California’s energy—its coastlines, colors, people, resilience, and endless possibilities.
Participating Artists:
Deborah Gallegos, Jon Kerpel, Rick Wise, Patra Rae Nesseth-Steffes, David Steffes, Patrick Lugo, Valerie Caveglia, Jerrald Loche, Mary Ann Davis, Al McGaughey, Winnie & Gerry Thompson, Dorsi Diaz, Linda Nygard, Pat Doyne, Peter & Maureen Langenbach, Kaitlin Cruey, Linnette Tompkins, Heidi Parks, Natalie Juntz, Barbara Handis, Al Janske, EstDeVon Haislip, Lisa Brunner, and the 2026 Sun Gallery Summer Art Camp.
A special highlight of the exhibition includes artwork created by students from the Sun Gallery 2026 Summer Art Camp, whose creativity adds a joyful and inspiring dimension to the show. Their pieces reflect the wonder, optimism, and fearless imagination of young artists. One standout work, a colorful rainbow artwork created by a camper, beautifully captures the spirit of the exhibition—hopeful, playful, and full of possibility.