The biennial, juried Crocker-Kingsley exhibition continues a tradition that began in 1926 through a collaboration between the Crocker Art Museum and the Kingsley Art Club. Established in 1892, by fifteen Sacramento women, the Kingsley Art Club supports arts and culture in the community.

This year marks the 80th Crocker-Kingsley. It attracts emerging artists, as well as those already established. Past Crocker-Kingsley exhibitors include many of the premier names in California art, including Robert Arneson, Kathryn Uhl Ball, Elmer Bischoff, Fred Dalkey, Robert Else, David Gilhooly, Ralph Goings, Gregory Kondos, Roland Petersen, Mel Ramos, Ruth Rippon, Fritz Scholder, Jerald Silva, and Wayne Thiebaud.

This year, more than 1,700 entries were submitted for consideration, from which juror Carrie Lederer selected 150 for display at Blue Line Arts in Roseville. From this group, jurors from the Crocker’s curatorial team selected five pieces — which may or may not have been accorded prizes in Roseville — for display at the Museum between February 28 and May 9, 2021.

At Blue Line Arts, Lederer selected five works for cash awards and presented five honorable mentions. Lederer is an independent curator and practicing painter, sculptor, and installation artist who exhibits her nature-inspired work across the United States. She was also Curator of Exhibitions at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, California, for 25 years. During her tenure at the Bedford Gallery, she curated more than 75 exhibitions, many of which have traveled nationally.