The Gallery of Hermosa in Hermosa Beach, California, has mounted an art show in Chigasaki, Japan, at Creative Space Hayashi, marking the first exhibition in a new East-West collaboration called "Shared Horizon." The show features nearly 20 American artists selected from hundreds of entries, including Stephanie Kohler of Redondo Beach and Torrance-based artist Harry Ohta, whose earlier solo exhibitions at the Japanese gallery paved the way for the partnership. The collaboration emerged from a meeting between Kimie Joe (Gallery of Hermosa), Misa Hayashi and her son Shun Kunori (Creative Space Hayashi), and Harry Ohta.
This collaboration matters because it represents a grassroots cultural exchange between two beach communities—Hermosa Beach and Chigasaki—that share a coastal lifestyle and a passion for art. By connecting small, locally focused galleries across the Pacific, the project demonstrates how independent art spaces can foster international dialogue and give emerging and mid-career artists exposure to new audiences. The show also highlights the growing trend of cross-border partnerships among smaller galleries, which often operate outside the major art-market centers.