A Laguna Beach resident for 25 years, Bob Chapman built his real estate business on the foundation of community. In 2008, Bob opened Coast Sotheby’s International Reality in the heart of the beautiful, seaside southern California town Laguna Beach. After years working for the city as a planning commissioner and as the general manager of other residential brokerages, Bob decided to open his own real estate business, but not in a conventional way.
Following his organization’s motto, “A renaissance bringing art and architecture together,” Bob decided to include more in his Laguna Beach office than just his real estate business. The city’s heritage is rooted in the fine arts and is a crux of the community. From the turn of the century through the 1930s, Laguna Beach was home to one of the most significant artists’ colonies on the Pacific Coast, the Laguna Beach Art Association, now called the Laguna Art Museum. With a passion for the arts and a background in architecture, Bob turned his business into a gallery of sorts by featuring magnificent Laguna Beach and surrounding area homes on flat screens throughout his office. In addition, giclée reproductions from Laguna Art Museum’s permanent collection (featuring works from members of the early Laguna Beach Art Association) hang on the walls and are displayed in the windows along with paintings and sculptures from the Festival of the Arts (home to the renowned Pageant of the Masters).
“My goal was to position Laguna Art Museum and the Festival of the Arts in front of visitors and residents. I wanted to reawaken an awareness about the rich heritage Laguna Beach has to offer,” says Bob.
The Coast Sotheby’s office location also houses the Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau. “By housing the Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau, we attract the visitors into our building where we are able to give them information about the Museum, the various festivals, and the Laguna Beach community,” he explains.
Along with celebrating the one-year anniversary of his new business, Bob is also celebrating one year as a trustee on Laguna Art Museum’s Board of Directors. When he joined the board in 2008, Bob was committed to making Laguna Art Museum a destination and reason for people to visit Laguna Beach.
“We are very fortunate to have someone like Bob on our board,” says Laguna Art Museum Director Bolton Colburn. “It is people like him who contribute vital support to Laguna Art Museum’s programs, events, and educational resources.”
By featuring works from the museum’s permanent collection in his downtown Laguna Beach location, Bob’s goal is to stimulate awareness about the rich history behind the collection. This fall, the museum will hold an exhibition, Collecting California, featuring pieces from the museum’s California-focused permanent collection. This exhibition will highlight collectors and the important gifts they have made to the museum.
Through collections, publications, and research on the art of California, Laguna Art Museum promotes understanding of the role of California art and artists in the development of the visual arts nationally and internationally. Bob’s involvement with the museum, as well as his support for the Festival of Arts and Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau, showcases his passion for the Laguna Beach community.
“When someone buys a home through Coast Sotheby’s International Realty, they are not just buying a home,” said Bob. “They are investing in the community.”
Coast Sotheby’s International Realty
381 Forest Ave., Ste 100A
Laguna Beach
949.494.0001
www.coastsothebysrealty.com
LAGUana art museum
307 cliff dr.
laguna beach
949.494.8971
www.lagunaartmuseum.org
