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OCMA Orange County Museum of Art
Rating Details »
850 San Clemente Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 759-1122
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 759-1122
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- Hours:
Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
22 reviews for OCMA Orange County Museum of Art
This museum is tucked away in the middle of the Newport Center area next to Fashion Island. You can totally bypass it if you didn't know that it was there. My friend only knew it was there because he's a fine arts major.
When I first arrived here, I thought it had a very bland exterior. There was nothing very artistic about the building's architecture at all.
I quickly realized that this museum is dedicated to pop and modern art installations. It's larger once you go inside and I realized that random things nowadays can be construed to be art. I think using different media really creates as strong of an effect on fans of modern art as the actual finished product. It definitely has a cool factor because a lot of the interpretations of the artists really make me feel weirded out or uneasy.
Another definite plus is its relative quietness of the museum. There aren't as many people here even on the weekends, so if you're a diehard pop art fan, this would certainly curb your craving without constant invasions of your personal space.
I didn't have a chance to try the cafe on the premises, as it was reserved at the time by an organization, but I do intend on coming back soon to see what new exhibit is on display.
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The Orange County Museum of Art is probably gasping for air surrounded by office parks, snoring condominiums, gated communities and a mall. The building in which it resides will surely find new life as another office park when OCMA moves on to greener pastures. In the meantime, wait until you get through the entrance doors before you come to any conclusions. I'm glad I did because I had a wild ride.
The temporary exhibition 'Illumination' is a gem featuring the paintings of Georgia O'Keefe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin, and Florence Miller Pierce. I'm a big fan of Agnes Martin's graphite lines and delicate colors, so I was glad to see a hefty selection of her paintings in context with these other artists of the period, including the work of Agnes Pelton. An artist with whom I've been unfortunately unfamiliar, her theosophical beliefs gave many of her paintings a hallucinatory quality that is irresistible. Florence Miller Pierce worked with resin and translucent color schemes in her wall reliefs. Finally, Georgia O'Keefe. Well, we've all seen her iconic images, but its fascinating to see her paintings juxtaposed against the others.
Moving on to other galleries that had almost countless video installations that were elegant, confusing, and funny topped off the experience here. The H-Box, a giant boom box of a video screening room made me want to buy one in the gift shop (if it were only available for sale).
It all made for one of the most satisfying times in a museum in a while. I just didn't expect it be here in office park land.
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Finally, another art must sees I can cross off my list. After my SOMA, MOMA, MOCA, MOLAA, LACMA, Dali of Florida, Louvre of France, Both Gettys, The Bowers, I actually made time for my very own backyard locale: The OCMA.
Unfortunately my over-hyped enthusiasm met w/somewhat stark dismay on initial visit. The chance to check it out came by w/an Art Lovers group of http://Meetup.com. About 10 of us got together on a Sunday morning to do some mosey-ing around.
For $12/person, not much was going on currently. May 2009 the museum featured the much anticipated Georgia O'Keefe (oddly a bit lacking) among others & a smattering of modern artists. My fave was the huge space-ship like, 3-D chamber, broadcasting a super brief rendition of legendary music bands: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.
Rather sparse & not fulfilling as hoped, though their stylish intriguing website might promise otherwise. The minimalist building, covered in lush green ivy, is fairly gorgeous w/comfortable space but no cafe. Too bad since there's an adjacent outdoor patio that would make a great dining/bar area.
So-so was our group's collective agreement on entire experience. Then we all head out to Fashion Island's Cheesecake Factory to share our under-whelmed contemplation over a very yummy lunch.
Despite the 'eh' visit, I'd still make an effort for future lecture series or anything of new interests. Personally, ART = LIFE & vice versa. I must have one for the other to thrive.
Driving around Newport Beach's Fashion Island on a lazy Saturday afternoon, my friend and I were joking of what what would be on display at OCMA. We both knew that the museum was a rather small collection centered around modern and contemporary pieces by artists in the region, but from the manner and tone of our jokes, we were both admitting that we were expecting to see artwork that, much like everything else in the neighborhood, was a part of the gluttonous consumption culture.
Having followed my mother around when she used to be active within the OC gallery circuit, I've always felt that the "Southern California has no culture" claim to be utter bullshit and what someone would say because apparently nothing proves one's cultural superiority than by shitting on the Greater Los Angeles Area *rolls eyes*. But despite having seen some great artworks, I've always felt that the art was very market-focused (this though, I admit, may be because what I saw was very much limited). Talented, yes. Alternative, I didn't know.
And after my visiting the OCMA, I am now happy to know that there is a great space for contemporary alternative art in Orange County and that many of these artists have great ties to the local area. This is not to say that the works at OCMA are the most avant garde pieces I've seen, because they're not. But rather, this is to say that though the museum is not perfect, it has carved for itself a rather nice niche-- a community centered small museum showcasing contemporary artists that the general public might have missed if going to just large museums (because as much as we all love to go gallery hopping every week, only a very few of us can afford that luxury).
While large museums are inevitably always only based on the size of their collection, their ability to host shows by superstar artists or curators, or how many postcard-worthy paintings they have, I like how small museums have to sculpt out their identities. And I love that the OCMA has, for itself, embraced California art, with all its stigma, and challenges the viewer's perceptions on California aesthetics. And it does that really well with its current show, "Art since the 1960s: California Experiments." I'm also excited about their upcoming exhibition-- the California Biennial-- and love the idea that they'll be showing part of it at South Coast Plaza. What better way to subsume (or perhaps, consume?) the Californian stereotype by showing artworks at its super-expensive and world famous mall?
The museum itself is housed in a stocky one story building that is rather unimpressive from the outside. Inside are three well lit and spacious galleries featuring various media from paintings to installations to films. The museum is surprisingly roomy and allows for the larger and more mobile works to be displayed without feeling cramped. There is a terrace outside, an indoor cafe, and, of course, a small store selling the kitschy things that could only be sold in museum gift shops.
As for the contents of the museum, I was very much impressed. Did I like everything? No, but I hardly ever do. Did I agree with everything? No, but I hardly ever do. Did I understand everything? Lord, no, and I hardly ever do. But with all this said, I really did like visiting the museum and getting to view artists that I may have not had the chance to see. I also absolutely loved the small collection of assemblage art that they had, especially the ones of Betye Saar.
I guess my one really large complaint (I do think that the current exhibition could have been structured better, but what do I know?) is that sometimes it felt more like the curators had collected some exciting artwork from the nation, but hadn't really done in terms interpreting them within the exhibitions. I couldn't help but feel that I may have had the same experience walking around in Chelsea. And considering that the price of admission is $8 for students, the same as with LACMA, the nagging cheap-o inside of me felt like I was being overcharged to see a much smaller and less recognized works that I could see for free in galleries. Money shouldn't be an issue with art, but when it is, perhaps it's telling of something.
But OCMA is a great place and definitely worth a visit. I'm really excited to see how the museum (and its surrounding art scene) will evolve in the future and will definitely be back to see. After all, I may be in New York, art capital of America, but I still have nothing but love for the Southland.
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I had the chance to witness the "birth of cool" exhibit in its final week at OCMA. While I regularly disconnect myself from orange county as a locale that comprehends the general concept of art, i appreciated the execution of this small exhibit. The spattering of mid-century architectural history, a jazz-driven musical influence, and a carefully chosen group of "hard edge paintings" proved to be a valid attempt to capture the spirit of an era. I kept waiting for both tow-headed security guards to look away...I was seriously considering "jackin" a few of thems' tulip chairs while they weren't looking.
as with most exhibits that idealize the OCMA schedule, I'm sure the "anthropologie" faring crowd at the mega mall down the street more than appreciated the prototype eames furniture and McLaughlin originals on display. right? (Doesn't that stuff fare quite well with gargantuan newport beach homes and multi-colored granite countertops?)
There was also a cool thing in the gift shop. It was answering phones with just the right amount of orange county hedonism. I think it was like 120 bucks though. The "eames stamp set" was much cheaper.
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I attended a few of their lectures series dealies here. It's only $5 if you are a student and you get to hear professionals in the art field talk about art/ art history (revolving around the topic of that lecture). It's pretty cool and parking wasn't a problem when we went. It's also a stones throw away (basically) from Fashion Island. Only downside of the lectures I attended was that they had so much info to give and just not enough time! I wanted them to keep going, but they usually would end up skipping some of the works or artists they were planning to talk about. So it kinda ends up being a very very very brief survey of the topic....But I guess that encourages me to do further research on the works and artists they've discussed.
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As Stewart B said, OCMA, is small, friendly and definitely focused on the art. I was surprised at how fresh and unique the styles were at the last exhibit I saw.. especially the diaries. From sculpture to photography and paintings, OCMA is a fresh, bright place to have a delightful time at a "museum". I think it's a good place for museum beginners because it's not overwhelming and it doesn't have pieces that some may consider "boring". I personally love historical pieces, but I haven't seen any of that at OCMA when I've been there.
Some Thursday nights, they have a DJ and bands play with a small cocktail bar and a great crowd. They even had a night with Sonic Youth. It's all ages and a great place to meet intelligent, upbeat people in Orange County.
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I think that Martin Kersels video is overrated. I was here on a field trip to see an exhibit by women photographers called Girl's Night Out. Unlike the usual state focus of the museum, it also featured upper class Mexican subjects but generally focused on the subjectivity of teenage girls. Video work about femininity and identity anticipated the concerns of my art school classmates. I wish I knew about the Eames stamps at the gift shop.
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The "negative space fashion show" a la an ISM quarterly event brought me to the OC Museum of Art. The location of OCMA is interestingly placed near businesses, The Four Seasons, and Fashion Island off a quaint little street.
The event was a blast and I could not picture, paint, or mold, a better place to have hosted it. OCMA provides great open space with high ceilings and fashionable patrons cavorting blissfully. I really enjoyed the bright white bar where bubbly, sangria, and bottled beers were served in a Vogue furry. A stage was set for a few bands to keep the atmosphere rocky and the fashion show was on the outside patio. Plenty of room, high ceilings, and that art stuff all around. I even saw Lisa from America's Top Model here. OC scores HUGE points with OCMA. I hope to go here again soon.
You can eat/drink at the many restaurants nearby at Fashion Island.
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Five starts for the fantastic exhibit, "The Birth of the Cool" at the Orange County Museum of Art. $10 admission opened the doors to a time machine to 1957 and the photography of William Claxton, the jazz of Miles Davis and the new West Coast sound, the design of the Eames family, and far more extraordinary popular and graphic art of the influential mid-century California modern movement. Fantastic exhibit book available, too (although this was a bit pricey at $70, but still high quality work). This could be a permanent exhibit at OCMA, much like the San Francisco MOMA's exhibit on modernism (but better)...well worth a visit!
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Silversun Pickups for FREE!
Chuck Close!
Not too overwhelming.
i can't believe i forgot to review this place.
i've been here a few times, one was for a fashion show which they were giving out free Mickey's malt liquor and the second time was for my friends art show. Either way, this place is a nice small place. It's located in Newport Beach, not to far from Fashion Island. They have a small gallery. This place isn't as big as MOCA but it's local and it has good flavor.
The cool thing about this place is that it has an outside patio. This patio could be transformed into a runway fashion show, a stage for music, or even an outdoor gallery.
Either way, check this place out.
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Tucked away in the moist asshole of Fashion Island is the Orange County Museum of Art- a most awesome place that is better than this county deserves. This was one of my favorite hangouts last year, my best memories of which are when Sonic Youth played (I was front row and center- shook Lee Renaldo's hand...cool) and when John Waters' "Change of Life" exhibit came through, meaning I was able to see with my own two eyes "Roman Candles", "Hag in a Black Leatherjacket" and "Eat Your Makeup"- films that I've been reading about for years but never fathomed I'd have a chance to actually sit down and watch. This place also hosts free concerts and such all the time, and to top it all off, Thursdays are free, meaning you have no excuse whatsoever for not checking it out.
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Went there this weekend to see "Birth of Cool" after a LONG ride. I must say that after reading all about it for a month, I was a bit disappointed. It was nice, but not worth the drive out there. It was SO much smaller then I thought. Essentially a small building with three small galleries and one museum store. That's it? I thought this place was a lot more extensive? Honestly, its a small, lovely museum but it just didn't have much to offer, didn't move me and the exhibit could have been better..
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love how you get to be really close to the art work there, and i love what they have.
i just find the location to be slightly hard to find & inconvenient.
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This museum is a contemporary art museum. There was a lot of pop art. It is $10 for general admission and $8 for students (Yay!). I enjoyed myself there. A lot of art which is quite abstract. It is small but definitely can fill a few hours in a day. There were some things that were very interesting to me and some things that just didn't do anything for me. I think it is worth checking out.
It's a beautiful space, but they were having technical difficulties during the screening of "Helvetica" tonight and it was a major bummer. I was talking to an old lady sitting in front of me who said they seem to have these kinds of difficulties often and it made me rethink my plan of coming back to see an upcoming screening of a Chet Baker doc. Thank god my friend had her KCRW card, so we only had to pay $5 each--otherwise it would've been 10 bones for a truly cool doc that I didn't get to finish watching. As soon as I came home I found it on netflix and put it at the top of the queue. Other than this disappointment, it seems like a really nice facility--I'll definitely come back and give it another go. Heck, in the OC places like this are definitely hard to come by so I can't totally write it off.
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We went here on a lovely Sunday afternoon to take in the "Birth of Cool" exhibit at OCMA. It was simply amazing! Lots of mid-century modern paintings, pics of cool houses, and Eames furniture. Loved it all, makes me want a mid-century house now. The museum store has a lot of really neat art books and pieces too. I think I'll be coming by here to do some holiday shopping.
I think the other review sum it up so just let me say that this is probably one of the most important museums in California not just Orange County. Love this place!
wait wait... you're telling me that there's a museum next to fashion island? the hell you say. wait, no, youre right. qua???
so, yes, there is a museum right next to fashion island in the fair city of newport. it's tucked away in what looks like a business park, but don't let that fool you. there is a fantabulous building that houses all sorts of wacky art. i came here to meet up with some fantabulous yelpers for a day of culture and food. i had a great time wandering the halls and observing the chuck close exhibit on display. it was pretty fascinating. the museum had done a good job of spacing the pieces and allowing multiple people to enjoy one work of art. i really liked it.
-1 for the super modern art side. i still think stewart b. should have taken that green plank home and hung it up as a shelf. a piece of wood painted green is not introspective, creative art. its just a piece of wood painted green.
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my boyfriend and i were bored yesterday, and i suggested we go to the getty center. we really weren't up for the drive (especially with these gas prices!... we were coming from irvine, afterall) so i found OCMA on yelp. to our surprise, the entrance fee was free because every third thursday of the month you don't have to pay the $10 entrance fee ($8 for students, though). it's right by fashion island, but in near corporate offices. the receptionist was really friendly, so that set off the whole vibe of the place. the other employees don't breathe down your neck, and don't watch you like a hawk like at other museums. the pop art of the '60s was definitely my favorite. there were a handful of andy warhol painting (one of my favorite artists) and i also liked the sculpture of the giant pink pearl eraser. so simple, but it was amazing. we spent about 2 hours there and it was so worth it. there weren't too many people there, so there was lots of room to roam around. i don't think i'd go back on any day but the third thursday of the month because it's so small. but it is impressive. i can't wait to go back.
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ocma is a great alternative to the other "big name" museums and galleries of los angeles. considerably smaller than it angelino counterparts, so don't expect something massive. but for it's size it packs a knockout-punch. ocma attracts everyone from so. cal art school kids (art center, otis, calarts, sci-arc, art insitute) to bushwazee, bentley drivin', newport/laguna based collectors. i recently read an article in the orange county register that proposed moving ocma into the south coast metro district (closer to ocpac, south coast repertory, and the ocma's "orange lounge" inside crystal court) but for now it still resides on the corporate outskirts of fashion island. ocma is always free on thursdays! check their website (http://www.ocma.net) for the schedule on orange crush concerts (every third thursday nite of the month when the museum is open late and hosts musical guests.) shows are all ages/free and for the 21+ crowd they do serve drinks. the california biennial is definately their flagship exhibition (refreshing contemporary work by young, emerging, visual artists) but you'll have to wait until 2008 to see this again. don't forget, ocma is hosting the chuck close "prints and process" exhibit until april 22nd 2007.
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