Orange County Museum of Art

If you're in the Costa Mesa area definitely stop by OCMA! Free entry and constantly changing exhibits. I've gone a handful of times with friends/solo since its reopening in June2020 and never had a bad experience. It's quite small could probably get through the exhibits and gift shop in 30mins. But if you're taking lots of photos, discussing the pieces, or even stopping by the bar, you could probably stretch it out to at least 2hrs.

Sometimes they have free workshops (check their instagram for details). Once stumbled upon a free collage making workshop and we had a blast getting crafty.

There's parking structures close by but the prices can fluctuate. I once saw it go for $20 flat which is a scam.

I love this museum!

A very small but beautifully designed and new museum right next to the Segerstrom performing arts theater. My favorite part of the museum is that it is free entry with easy parking on the block next to it. It's $15 to park but there was no charge on Saturday when we visited so it was free to enter and free to park. As mentioned the museum is very small; it's only three exhibit areas and one very small exhibit upstairs. They do have a nice café on the second floor which could be a good dining option if you want to eat before or after viewing the galleries. We did not have to wait long to enter, there were only a few people in front of us, and it wasn't too crowded on the inside, although being a free museum, there were more kids than I would hope to see. My favorite part of it is up on the third floor roof area where you're able to walk outside right near where the café is located. They have a lot of sculptures there and seating areas and you can get great views of the museum itself.

I am holding back a star because of the size of the museum. I understand that they have a revolving set of exhibits, but it is very small as is so you could easily be in and out in under an hour. Living in Los Angeles I have become really spoiled by LACMA and Norton Simon and a handful of other museums up here so I wish that this location would have more to view. It's hard to be a date location because there just isn't enough to see, but would be great to stop in with friends or family.

We decided to have a fun Valentine's day by going to a museum as a family. The plus sign about this museum is that admission is free. There are local parking structures to park your vehicle. We parked in Tower Plaza and paid $7 for an hour. There is no validation so I feel it can get pretty expensive in these structures.

The museum overall was pretty small. There are two floors of art exhibits and a third with a cafe and bar. The exhibit contains work from local artists. The current exhibit has installations from Joan Brown, Tony Lewis, Jennifer Guidi, and other artists.

Gift shop is pretty cool and has lots of things you can take home after your visit. The prices are a little high but you can find some reasonable priced items. Such a great place in the OC!!!

My opinion just right amount of art to view... the exhibits were full of new ideas and presentations. If you are in the area - visit and free entrance.

A free, wholesome activity for everyone. The modern art exhibits at OCMA often change and can easily be found on their website. My favorites so far are the Daniel Arsham's (probably most popular for the Pokémon art) and Jennifer Guidi. It's nice to be able to see and interpret the different color palettes, the materials, and each artist. Each piece can come with a challenge on how we interpret it (i.e., pop culture, modern times, waste, mental health, personal life).

Parking can be found in various places which are listed on their website: Tower Plaza Parking Structure (next to the structure), Irvine Parking (across the street behind Mastro's), MET Parking, and South Coast Plaza (~15 minute walk). You'll likely have to pay unless you are willing to park for free and walk from South Coast Plaza. Just keep in mind if there are a few exhibits, it might be a lot of walking altogether.

OCMA is a small modern and contemporary art museum located in Costa Mesa, CA. Admission is free but they accept donations. The museum has good permanent collection galleries and rotating exhibits in their two level museum floors. Furthermore, they have a full bar at the roof top terrace. Staff were cordial and professional.

We spent 40 minutes to thoroughly go thru the entire museum including but not limited to taking photos, ogle at its architecture, read art info, etc. Moreover, the museum store is tiny and located at the main check-in lobby. As for parking, they do not have their own parking structure but plenty of paid parking lots around the area. Overall, we enjoyed this modest museum and their art exhibits and its architectural grandeur at no cost.

If you're close to the area i would recommend going its free too. But i drove almost one hour to see this museum and its very small and not enough to see.

Enjoyed a wonderful visit with my daughter this weekend. Viewed beautiful artwork and had fun at an interactive clay exhibit. Staff were super friendly and patient when asking questions about different art pieces.

Definitely worth a visit and support.

One of the highlights of my visit was the museum's rotating exhibitions, which showcase the cutting-edge and thought-provoking work of contemporary artists. From immersive installations to thought-provoking sculptures, each exhibition offered a unique perspective on the world around us, challenging visitors to see things in new and unexpected ways.

In addition to its exhibitions, the OCMA also offers a variety of programs and events designed to engage and educate audiences of all ages. From artist talks and workshops to film screenings and live performances, there's always something new and exciting happening at the museum.

A free art museum in Costa Mesa. I think parking is $15 but you can easily park at Costa Mesa mall and walk 10-15 minutes. When we got there, they had us check in to get a sticker. Art was pretty cool and we enjoyed going through it. At a moderate pace you can easily get through both floors of art in 30-45 minutes. They have a bar upstairs that many people seemed to get drinks and chill outside. Totally worth checking out especially since it's free!