Explore some of California’s most acclaimed modern artists with five exhibitions at the newly opened Orange County Museum of Art.
From afree exhibit at SoFi Stadiumto anew street nontextual matter art gallery on La Brea , LA hasplenty of optionswhen it comes to sustain your modern art fixture . In fact , the whole of Southern California is awash in graphics viewing opportunities , from the area ofSan Diego ’s Balboa Park , to the new reopenedOrange County Museum of Art ( OCMA)at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa . At 53,000 - square - feet , OMCA ’s new building is almost double the size of its harbinger in Newport Beach , and is certain to attract art enthusiasts across the region with its hope of free admission charge to all for its first ten years of procedure .
Designed by Morphosis , the construction instantly captures attention with a trenchant outside that seems to recall the nearby ocean with wave - corresponding terracotta tiles and metal panel . The construction curve , leading your heart up to turgid window that filter natural light into the space . But before entering the museum , you ’ll be confronted with artist Sanford Biggers ’ “ Of many weewee … , ” a monolithic , commission sculpture that ’s pen of metal sequins , with a figure head base on a nineteenth 100 Baule double - face mask while the dead body bewilder in a reclined position reminiscent of classic European paintings . It will remain on perspective until August 2023 .
On the ground floor of the museum , visitors will find13 Women , an homage to the 13 fair sex who founded the Balboa Pavilion Gallery , an early looping of the museum . Curated by OCMA CEO and Director Heidi Zuckerman , the exhibition sport 13 female artists who share the same visionary qualities as the museum ’s original founders and will have multiple rotations over the course of a year . The works range from the sixties to the present , with the exception of Agnes Pelton ’s celestial abstractThe Guidefrom1929 . The dreamy number includes right-down drape open up to reveal a unmarried superstar that sits at the top pulling direction to it , perhaps as the titular guide .
Photo by Joshua White, courtesy of Orange County Museum of Art and Morphosis
The museum has also animate theCalifornia Biennialwhich date back to 1984 , and is organized by former OCMA curator Elizabeth Armstrong , with piece that reflect on the unique space the Golden State occupies in the American imagination , including mythical stories and reflection on the state ’s time to come , featuring 19 contemporary artists from across California , including Tanya Aguiñiga , Alex Anderson , Sadie Barnette , and Kenturah Davis .
you may also stare into artist Fred Eversley ’s mesmeric lenses and mirror flesh in hisReflecting Back ( The World)exhibition and saunter through landscape designer Peter Walker’sMinimalist Landscape , includingFountains and Plantingsat the unveiling motor hotel for Cesar Pelli ’s Plaza Tower andArrival Gardenat the ramp entry to the Performing Arts Center .
The updated digs also admit Verdant Café , developed by Ross Panglinan and Nick Weber ( Populaire ) , with a mostly vegetarian bill of fare that will change hebdomadally , featuring fresh , seasonal produce like a Koji - roasted acorn crush with shell beans , mushrooms , roasted escarole , and porcini puree . The indoor - outdoor space is located on the bench level with Scandinavian - revolutionize light mend , velvet and macrame textile , and light - colour wood . The outdoors are brought indoors with large tree punctuate the dining room .
For those face to bring the museum experience home , there ’s THE MIND , OCMA ’s gift store that ’s located in the foyer and provides visitor with a glimpse into the veranda . operate by Emmanuel Renoird and Nicolas Libert of LA- and OC - found construct storesPlease Do Not Enter , THE MIND hop to become a address within a goal by sport a rotating survival of artist- and artisan - designed products . In the center is a sculptural presentation piece by LA - base creative person Sébastien Léon that mimics the building ’s design with metallic element plate .
With a new expanded building , heart - catching galleries , a voguish stock , an innovative coffee shop , and complimentary admittance to all for the next decade , it ’s easy to absolve OCMA as a worthwhile ethnical excursion , whether you ’re an OC local or road tripping from LA or San Diego .
OCMA is subject to the public for free accession with no reservations required Tuesday , Wednesday , and Sunday from 10 am–6 pm and on Thursday , Friday , and Saturday from 10 am–8 autopsy .
Photo courtesy of Orange County Museum of Art and Morphosis
Photo courtesy of Orange County Museum of Art and Morphosis
Photo courtesy of Orange County Museum of Art and Morphosis
