di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, Napa

The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, located in Napa, is a non-profit art center dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of Northern California artists. With a collection of approximately 1,600 works, di Rosa showcases notable artists such as Robert Arneson, Bruce Conner, Jay DeFeo, Tony Labat, and William T. Wiley. Established as a public entity 25 years ago, the center continues to be a hub for contemporary art and creative experimentation.

The di Rosa site spans 217 acres of land purchased by Rene di Rosa in 1960. Originally part of the Rancho Huichica land grant, it was later developed into vineyards and a stone winery in 1886 but fell into disrepair after phylloxera struck in the late 19th century. Di Rosa restored the land, converting the winery into a home and re-establishing the vineyards as Winery Lake Vineyards in 1963. After selling the vineyard in 1986, he funded the Rene and Veronica di Rosa Foundation, which led to the creation of an "art park" in 1997. Now the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art features galleries, and a sculpture meadow, and is protected by the Napa County Land Trust.

The di Rosa collection, originally amassed by Rene di Rosa (1919–2010), features works by artists from the San Francisco Bay Area from the mid-20th century onward, highlighting the region’s history of artistic experimentation. While the collection was initially at risk of major deaccession in 2019, public outcry led to a shift in policy under the leadership of Executive Director Kate Eilertsen in 2021.

The center hosts rotating exhibitions featuring its collection and works by Bay Area artists, including Oliver Lee Jackson: Any Eyes (2021–2022) and Equilibrium: A Paul Kos Survey (2016). It also hosted the traveling exhibit The True Artist is an Amazing Luminous Fountain (2004–2005). Beyond exhibitions, di Rosa engages the community with educational programs, artist talks, performances, nature hikes, and summer camps, reinforcing its role as a key cultural institution in Northern California.