2025 Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo announces winners

The annual Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo named several winners at last weekend’s opening event.

Held at the 29 Palms Art Gallery, the 13 annual art expo awarded cash prizes totaling $4000 for pieces submitted to the juried exhibition.

For the first time at Art Expo, a photograph won the Best of Show award. The award went to Craig Schoenbaum of Culver City for his black-and-white photograph, “Cloud Catchers.” 

Also in the Photography category, first place was awarded to Mark Robben of Rancho Palos Verde for his black-and-white photograph “Sculpture.” Second place went to Andrew Hertel of San Diego; and third place went to Kevin Flynn Burke of Simi Valley.

First place in the 3-Dimensional category went to Linda Shrader of Yucca Valley for her sculpture “A Little Piece of Joshua Tree.” Second place went to Laurie Schafer of Yucca Valley for her fiber art, and third place was a wall sculpture by Thomas Alban of Pioneertown.

In the 2-Dimensional category, the first-place winner was Sue Feenstra of Joshua Tree for her watercolor “Blooming Desert Road.”  Second place was a painting on gold foil panel by Alane Levinsohn of Joshua Tree, and third place was pen and pencil drawing by Doyle Moyer of Yucca Valley.

The juried exhibition is on display at the gallery through November 30 and features artwork inspired by Joshua Tree National Park. A total of 64 artists from the desert region and across California, the U.S., and Canada were juried into the exhibition, out of 154 artist entries. Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to vote for the People’s Choice award, which will be announced at the close of the show.

The 29 Palms Art Gallery is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Friday through Sunday, at 74055 Cottonwood Drive on the corner of National Park Drive in Twentynine Palms. The artwork can also be viewed online at jtnpARTS.org.