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OCMA Orange County Museum of Art
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
850 San Clemente DrNewport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 759-1122
- Hours:
Wed, Fri-Sun 11 am - 5 pm
Thu 11 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
41 reviews for OCMA Orange County Museum of Art
Review Highlights
"...eat/drink at the many restaurants nearby at Fashion Island."
(in 9 reviews)
"Lots of mid-century modern paintings, pics of cool houses..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...afternoon to take in the "Birth of Cool" exhibit at OCMA."
(in 4 reviews)
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41 reviews in English
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Review from april c.
South Pasadena, CA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
i was very impressed with this little museum - and i'm a bit of a museum-addict, really.
i went for the calder exhibit, which was phenomenal; as one of my very favorite artists, it was awesome to see so much of his work at once and such a range. of course, to keep it 'current', there's the 'works inspired by' area - meh. biggest gripe, no photos allowed, and not the greatest exhibition catalog book (too much emphasis on the 'inspired by' aspect, not enough calder) or exhibition-centric gift shop selection. some have stated frustration with not being able to touch/play with the pieces as that was a key theme in calder's work - well, yeah, but maybe the larger stabiles (such as at storm king); mobiles are a bit different (aging, delicate) - so i found that completely understandable.
the museum itself is in fact very small, but overall i would say well-curated, and with pleasant, present staff (not too awful hovery). given the scale of the place, clearly your experience will be driven by whatever exhibition is current. -
Review from King J'aime B.
Los Angeles, CA
10/9/2011
2nd Sundays are FREE! Parking is kinda tight.
Went to an art talk at 1pm in their auditorium. A few of the artists (men) were fun, engaging and interesting. Some of the women were more serious.
- I had a problem with one lady who got into talking about her sexual adventures, references were made to beastiality and other dark topics in the presence of children in the audience. I know she is from the 60's-70's, but it was too much on a nice Sunday afternoon.
- I am NOT a proponent of censorship, but definitely some common sense editing
They have a great section for kids to do artwork with ample supplies. Today face masks, getting mummified was a thrill for the tots.
Some of the exhibits were wacky and really odd.
- I have enjoyed thought provoking exhibits in NYC at the Moma and Met but this place fell a little short
- I think I will stick to the Getty and Art Galleries -
Review from Aden J.
Anaheim, CA
2/15/2012
OCMA is very small, but the museum consistently exhibits fresh, creative, and smart artwork. Unlike the bigger museums in LA, parking at OCMA is easy and admission prices are very low. If you're a serious art book collector, the museum has a very sharp taste in their excellent gift shop. The only downside is that walking through their small space can be a short trip, but their artwork always seems worth the small selection.
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Review from marco A.
Santa Ana, CA
1/17/2012
Had a great time on the free second Sunday!
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Review from Kay D.
7/7/2011
I came here to get my art on, and to ogle the sweet Calder mobile exhibit they had. It was very cool, and some of the balancing acts I witnessed blew my mind.
The other thing that blew my mind was the price. I came here with a half off coupon, which cost $6. This means that regularly it is $12 to come here for two rooms worth of art. That is a sad thing. My husband and I searched around for the "rest" of the museum after we finished the exhibit, and couldn't believe we had seen everything. Well...we had.
They have movie showings here and things that sounds like fun, but as an avid art lover and gawker, spending $12 for thirty minutes worth of art gazing isn't fun for me. Why is it so expensive? Oh yes, it's in Newport Beach. -
Review from Pete S.
6/13/2011 4 Check-ins Here
This review is strictly for the Free second Sundays that's sponsored by Target
http://www.ocma.net/in...
I have to say, I've been to a few of these Free Museum days that's offered to the public. I've been to BofA museum on us, been to Huntington Library free days, and been to various free museum days from Target. This one, is just perfect for families that wants to take their kids and enjoy the arts and crafts and do it in a fun, very organized, and in a learning capacity.
What I really liked about this place and the arts for the kids is that they have a little paper indicating what you will be making. Also on that same paper, is the inspiration from the artist that is in the museum that you are trying to replicate. So for example, one artist had an oil painting that showed abstract lines. The replication had kids tape off a wood board with thin tape, color the board, and remove the tape. The replication is not a masterpiece, but it was certainly an inspiration for kids that have the feel for art projects.
I also like it is in a very large, open spaced, relaxed environment. There were people monitoring everywhere but all were really friendly, especially the volunteers. Take advantage of these free museum days while you can when there are not a lot of people, especially during lunchtime on the free days. -
Review from Anna K.
Orange County, CA
3/13/2011
I appreciated that they offer the 2nd Sunday of every month free admission otherwise I would had rated 1 star if I would had to pay for admission.
I took my young cousins who were thrilled about going today just after taking them to the Getty yesterday. I was worried they wouldn't be impressed compared to the Getty Museum just 24 hours ago. They were excited and enjoyed themselves. So why the 2 stars?
When I looked at the website it looked very family friendly with activities and such. When we pulled up to the museum there were dozens of kids outside waiting for a school bus to pick them up.. So I'm still thinking family friendly. Once we're inside I'm completely distracted by all their no camera signs. Understandable..
As we're browsing I'm once again distracted now by their staff grabbing kids and yelling at them "no touching!!" i understand, no touching when theres a clear sign. We walk into a room with fixtures hanging down the ceiling, there's no sign or description until you've already walked through the other side of the room. My 13 year old cousin touches one of these as any curious human would not knowing what the art is or the concept if it's interactive or not and one of the staff bites his head off "NO TOUCHING!!!!!!" I apologize on his behalf he shouldn't had touched it. What made the visit even worse is now we had that staff member following us around walking a few steps behind us as if were going to steal something. Then I over hear him talking to another staff member to keep an eye out on my cousin. I took my cousins and we left, not like there was much to see anyway.
It's amazing though how my cousins still said they had fun and would like to visit again. It's even more amazing that they said that after spending a full day at the Getty yesterday with more valuable art, more to see and No one treated us like shoplifters. -
Review from billy c.
Burbank, CA
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Calder exhibit..... Sandy made great fun things that were meant to be alive, move and fill the world with joyous motion! here in the O C guards
grounded any attempt at flights of fancy -
Review from Kellee N.
Anaheim, CA
1/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
There's some great installations and art here but I was under the impression it was a LOT bigger. If you read everything you can get through it in wayyy less than two hours, super easy. It's a breath of fresh air compared to a lot of other museums. I really like it.
However, taking photos here is super tricky. When you walk in you can take pictures of certain things, and the employees say it's okay to take pictures without a flash. I took three photos in the entire museum and they made me delete all three because I wasn't allowed to take photos... but I wasn't using flash... and there weren't any signs anywhere that said I couldn't take a picture of that particular piece.
So, whatever, it didn't really ruin my day, but there were three employees following us the entire time because there was only me and my boyfriend in the museum for about an hour. They would walk after us when we walked and stopped when we stopped. Talk about making me feel anxious and paranoid.
I really loved the gift shop, though. I don't know why. Everything in there is so damn cool. All the books, postcards, wallets, just... everything. I wanted to buy it all. -
Review from Devin M.
Long Beach, CA
7/23/2011
Lovely place.
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Review from Trina D.
5/16/2010 2 Check-ins Here
My cousin and I decided to bike here from her place on the peninsula. It was about 4 miles each way and I was practically dying on the hill up Jamboree. However, we made it and we locked up our bikes and entered the museum. Luckily, we bought Groupon tickets earlier in the week that let us in for $6 each instead of the normal admission price of $12. The museum is rather small compared to others I've been to but they have a really cool exhibit going on now called "15 minutes of Fame: Portraits from Ansel Adams to Andy Warhol." It was definitely a great exhibit with a lot of photographs ranging from the 1920s to the present. Some of my favorites included photographs of: Marilyn Monroe, Tippi Hedgren, and Bobby Kennedy. I was a little disappointed that there weren't that many Ansel Adams works there, but there were quite a few Andy Warhols. Definitely a great exhibit to check out.
The museum itself is small but a great space near Fashion Island. The parking lot is large and somewhat empty on a sunny Saturday morning. The girl at the admissions desk was super friendly and the guards were present but not overbearing when we came up close to the artwork. There are audio tours that you can dial into with your cell phone, which is neat because you don't have to rent one of those germ-infested audio machines. Definitely cool.Listed in: For the love of Art
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Review from Hazel Q.
4/1/2010
Hazel fun fact! I've worked at two different art museums, but still know next to nothing about art. 'Tis the sad, sad truth. However, just like wine, magic shows, and most home-cooked meals, just because I don't know much about it doesn't mean I can't enjoy it.
I first checked out OCMA during their "Birth of Cool" exhibit a couple years back, when I was going through a borderline obsessive mid-century modern phase. And this was the perfect exhibit for me. The audio-tours I've done here have been okay, but what I prefer is bothering the security guards/docents. Frankly, I'm not even sure which they are, I'm leaning more toward security guards, but geez, they know a lot about the art exhibited here.
For being a hidden little museum, it was actually much larger than I thought. They don't seem to do as many events as they used to, but they still do film screenings from time to time that are pretty cheap and include museum admission. Between those and the usually interesting exhibits, I'd say "Yay! I'm a fan" of OCMA any day of the week. -
Review from Keith S.
Long Beach, CA
1/22/2008
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. -
Review from Sienna K.
Philadelphia, PA
7/2/2008
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.Listed in: Framed works framing thoughts
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Review from Chanel C.
5/26/2010
if you dont love this place...i dont know you.
OCMA is a pretty small museum, but you really can appreciate the art in this intimate space, and get close and personal with the work. spent a lot of my days wandering this place...and i will spend more days to come wandering around this place. -
Review from Jason A.
11/18/2008 1 Check-in Here
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. -
Review from Paul L.
6/24/2009 1 photo
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.Listed in: Art Museums Anywhere
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Review from Elizabeth W.
Long Beach, CA
3/2/2007
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. -
Review from Audrey L.
4/1/2011
I've been here once before a few years ago and remembered really enjoying the exhibits; I wanted to go this weekend but found it was closed in preparation for the Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy, opening April 10th.....so I shall return.
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Review from Veronica B.
Encinitas, CA
6/17/2010
I'm torn between a 3 or a 4 star score for this museum. Honestly, following my visit to the LACMA, this place just can't compare. It's small and the art doesn't seem like it has been set up with much intention. The rooms are either crowded or empty, and the surplus or lack of space doesn't seem to have any artistic reason. It sort of seemed like a warehouse that had been converted into a museum.
However, I loved the "15 Minutes of Fame" portrait gallery that they currently have. There were so many fantastic portraits, including ones of Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King, Jr., Tippi Hedren, and more.
Another bonus is that there is substantial parking and it's free! Gotta love that.
Really, I don't think I would have been disappointed in this place if it weren't for the price. Both LACMA and MOCA are free after 5 on Thursdays, but this place was still $10 for students and $12 for regular admission. I guess you save on parking, but it was still a bit of a bummer. -
Review from Brad F.
Los Angeles, CA
8/16/2006
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. -
Review from Gstar K.
Huntington Beach, CA
6/1/2009
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. -
Review from n o.
CA
3/20/2007
Silversun Pickups for FREE!
Chuck Close!
Not too overwhelming. -
Review from Steve C.
Long Beach, CA
1/3/2008
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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Review from Jason S.
San Jose, CA
10/15/2010
Contemporary art that stretches the limit. This little boutique of a museum stands on its own in unique treasures and overlooked artists. The place is small and intimate. The art I've seen here is more provocative than abstract, which is a good change of pace when compared to the museums in Los Angeles. I'm in due for another visit to this place, it's great. Check it out!
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Review from Christian Y.
CA
3/23/2007
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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Review from Jackie D.
11/5/2007
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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Review from Mary H.
Corona, CA
8/1/2010
This museum is extremely small. We were in and out in of OCMA in less than twenty minutes because the collection we saw a few months back was not impressive. Sorry, but this place could be so much more because the interior is wonderful. Not what I expected at all.
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Review from Ai M.
11/18/2008
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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Review from Tiffany C.
Garden Grove, CA
2/25/2009
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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Review from Champ M.
5/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Beautiful Losers 05. Biennial 06. Landscape Confection 06. Birth of the Cool 08. Biennial 08. Sonic Youth playing in the court yard. Just a few of my most memorable nights at OCMA.
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Review from Steph H.
10/11/2007
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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Review from yuri c.
1/5/2008
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.Listed in: Exploring Socal
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Review from James C.
Tappan, NY
5/10/2009
Target 2nd Sundays for kids is a great program. The activities are really fun and the staff does a great job of guiding and helping. Check their website for the dates and themes.
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Review from Grace T.
10/21/2007
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.
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Review from Tim S.
Laguna Hills, CA
7/7/2007
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!
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Review from Patricia T.
Arcata, CA
4/6/2008
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.
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Review from Aly D.
2/11/2007
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. -
Review from mike s.
Long Beach, CA
7/10/2010
I've been here a few times on their free day (second Sundays). It's a pretty small museum. You can take your time and get through the whole place in under an hour. I really liked the "15 Minutes of Fame" photography exhibit they have on display right now. Photos from Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, and the iconic Che Guevara image. If you're into photography it's well worth checking out.
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Review from patrickarsenal a.
CA
2/11/2007
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.
