FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2025
Westbrook Modern presents Sojourn, a new solo exhibition by René Romero Schuler in Carmel-by-the-Sea
The acclaimed Monterey-based artist reveals new works that showcase the latest evolution of her practice
and the shared journeys of the human experience
René Romero Schuler, Sojourner, oil on canvas, 78 x 96 in
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA – Westbrook Modern presents Sojourn, a new solo exhibition by René Romero Schuler exploring shared journeys of the human experience and the latest evolution of the artist’s practice. The exhibition is on view September 5 – 12, 2025, with an opening reception on Friday, September 5th, 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
The Monterey-based artist is best known for her textured oil paintings of abstract, faceless female figures that emerge from rich tactile, often monochromatic surfaces. Her work blends abstraction to examine the complexities of the human experience. Emblematic of the exhibition’s title, Schuler’s work in Sojourn likewise depicts feminine figures existing within moments of change and journeys undertaken. For the first time, new works in the exhibition depict such figures in identifiable settings rather than pure abstractions. In her new painting, Sojourner, a central figure stands in front of a path that leads to the forest, suggesting both the necessity of looking to the past while moving forward into the future, reflecting Schuler’s enduring themes of survival and transformation.
“I don’t paint faces. I paint energies. I paint the invisible threads that connect us, the things we feel but don’t always know how to name.” – René Romero Schuler
The exhibition builds on the story Schuler recently shared as the keynote speaker for the Community Foundation for Monterey County’s Women’s Fund Luncheon, where she spoke to over 600 people about overcoming homelessness as a teenager and forging a path as a self-made artist. From dropping out of high school and hot-wiring cars to becoming the successful exhibiting artist she is today, Schuler’s profound experiences of overcoming adversity inform all her bodies of work and continue to resonate with people and collectors around the world.
Exhibition Details
Opening Reception: Friday, September 5, 2025, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
On View: September 5–12, 2025
Westbrook Modern
3 NW of 7th on Dolores
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
About René Romero Schuler
René Romero Schuler is an American painter and sculptor who creates powerful images that speak to the complexities of the human condition and the spirit that connects all human beings.
Feminine figures are a constant in Schuler’s art, which she claims is equal parts self-portraiture and depictions of the range of emotions she has experienced. Her challenging childhood imbues her work with an appreciation for the universal yet essentially intimate struggles and triumphs of human existence. In her quest for a feeling of connection, Schuler speaks to global and societal issues that impact us all.
Schuler’s paintings and sculptures are purposely semi-abstract and textured, rendering them open to interpretation by the viewer. Their power lies in the layers of applied materials scraped, carved and incised by hand and the elusive quality of the figures – wholistically beautiful but symbolic of the scars and flaws that shape individuals.
Currently represented by galleries across the U.S., Canada and Europe, Schuler has had major exhibitions throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia, and has work included in the permanent collections of numerous museums and institutions.
Schuler’s art and selected essays and poetry are collected into published works: René Romero Schuler: Life and Works, 2013; René Romero Schuler, 2016 and René Romero Schuler, 2019, now available in its second edition. A fourth book, Ladies, was published in 2023.
Website: https://www.reneromeroschuler.com
Instagram: @reneromeroschuler
About Westbrook Modern
Westbrook Modern is a leading contemporary gallery in Carmel-by-the-Sea specializing in American art from the mid-1940s to today, with a focus on Modernism, Post War Abstract Expressionism, Bay Area Figurative, Berkeley School, Minimalism, Hard Edge and 20th Century glass. The gallery represents established artists as well as select mid and emerging Contemporary talent, with works held in major museums and private collections worldwide.
Website: https://www.westbrookmodern.com
Instagram: @westbrookmodern