Spotlight on… Riviera Fine Art

by Tyler Blue

Since opening the Riviera Fine Art gallery earlier this year,
Caleb Johns has earned his reputation as a risk-taker. Rather than
being intimidated by the challenges of running a business on State
Street, the 33-year-old San Diegan seized the opportunity to
transform a prime piece of real estate into a museum-quality
showroom. Drawing from years of experience running galleries in
Hawaii and Las Vegas, Johns has gifted our town with a glimpse of
cutting-edge, contemporary style. Nobody said it would be easy, but
with an unshakable commitment to the integrity of his art, Johns’s
ambitious vision is already coming to fruition.

Stepping into the bright, open space of Riviera Fine Art, one’s
senses are enlivened with a palette of visual stimuli. The lighting
is a study in perfection, illuminating the vibrant paintings with
warmth and finesse. Johns has worked with most of the artists for
years, gravitating toward renowned trendsetters. The wine-bottle
still lifes of Thomas Arvid jump off the wall while the windows of
shadow-master Don Dahlke invite the viewer into tropical desert
dreams.

Other than the art, the best thing about Riviera is its relaxed,
unpretentious ambience. Johns is the antithesis of the snooty
gallery stereotype as he welcomes visitors into his world of
impeccable taste. Most pieces are under $3,000, with some gems
attainable for just a few hundred. For Caleb Johns, “The best part
of the business is making people happy. I love being the guy who
can facilitate that.”

FOUR • ONE • ONE Riviera Fine Art, 927 State
St., 892-5051.