In Scottish, Northern English, and Manx folklore, the first foot refers to the first person to enter a home on New Year's Day, with that person thought to be a bringer of good fortune for the coming year.

Opening at Garel Fine Art in Manhattan Beach January 17th from 4-7 p.m., First Foot: Landscapes for a New Year carries that idea forward. As one of the first gallery exhibitions of 2026, we hope the beautiful landscapes this show contains, whether representative or abstract, bring good luck to all viewers.

Each of the artists in this exhibition have a unique vision to present for the new year. Eileen Oda brings lush and dreamy magical realism in her vividly colored, richly dimensional seascapes and desert vistas that sing with light.

Linda Stelling’s hypnotically blissful, motion-filled images of nature’s beauty invest her mix of the impressionistic and the abstract with wonder.

Lynette K. Henderson’s startling urban realism juxtaposes familiar Los Angeles landscapes with the hauntingly visceral animals whose habitats our lives have upended.

Valerie Wilcox focuses on the landscape of the architectural, reinventing the world around her with mixed media wall sculptures that lead the viewer into a bold, riveting new world.

Also exhibiting is gallerist and artist Joanna Garel, whose cool, clean, beach-centric landscapes feature iconic images such as lifeguard towers and sky-brushing palms.

Join us to welcome in the New Year at Garel Fine Art and explore these dazzling new landscapes in art and good fortune.