Orange County Museum of Art

Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA)
Established	1996
Location	850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, California
Type	Art museum
Director	Dennis Szakacs
Website	http://www.ocma.net/

The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) is a museum located in Newport Beach, California.

The museum's collection comprises more than 3,000 objects, with a concentration on the art of California from the early 20th century to present. Exhibits include traditional paintings, sculptures and photography, as well as new media in the form of video, digital and installation art.

Each month, the museum hosts events such as Thursday evening lectures, artists' talks and special activities for children. Some 20,000 children and adults participate in award winning education programs annually.

History

Originally incorporated in 1918 as the Laguna Beach Art Association, the museum grew, expanded its facilities in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa into nationally recognized programs, and in 1996 took the name Orange County Museum of Art. The museum has organized exhibitions of contemporary art, including the first surveys of Vija Celmins (1980), Chris Burden (1988), and Tony Cragg (1990), as well as major exhibitions of work by Lari Pittman (1983), Gunther Forg (1989), Charles Ray (1990), Guillermo Kuitca (1992), Bill Viola (1997), Inigo Manglano-Ovalle (2003), Catherine Opie (2006), and Mary Heilmann (2007). In 1984 the Museum launched the California Biennial, focusing on emerging artists in the state. The museum has co-organized exhibitions with the Renaissance Society, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Grey Art Gallery, and its exhibitions have traveled to more than 20 museums in the United States and elsewhere.

In addition to its contributions to the field of contemporary art, the museum has also organized and hosted exhibitions of modern art and design.

External links

• Orange County Museum of Art Official Website