Garden Sculpture at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego La Jolla
The Museum of Contemporary Art boasts a collection of over 4,700 works of art in all mediums. Every piece of art on display was created after 1950, hence the contemporary nature of the collection.
During your visit, you’ll have the chance to view art from multiple areas of the globe, with a focus on art produced in Latin America and California, especially the San Diego and Tijuana region.
There’s a wide range of representation including installation art, conceptual art, and samples of the minimalism and Pop Art trends that were popularized in the 1960s and 1970s. The museum is continually expanding its collection and rotating its displays, so there’s always something new and exciting to see, no matter how many times you visit.
In addition to the extensive collection lining each room, the Museum of Contemporary Art also has temporary exhibitions that highlight a particular artist, movement, or aspect of contemporary art. These exhibitions provide greater detail on the importance of a selection of works, making them a great educational opportunity!
Tickets Desk at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego La Jolla
Explore the Art Gallery and Learn Something New
As you walk through the dozens of different rooms in the museum, you’ll traverse hallways lined with paintings, but that’s far from the only type of art on display.
Other mediums like sculptures and larger installations are just as common, with many exhibits incorporating photo and video elements as well. The way I see it, no matter your personal preferences and tastes when it comes to art, all visitors are sure to find pieces that speak to them.
Many of the works of art in the museum are designed to evoke strong emotions, while others seek simply to capture the time in which they were created. You can be transported back to the 50s and 60s, when Pop Art dominated American canvasses, or discover art from the past few years that speaks to the social issues of our time.
Contemporary art museums are uniquely able to help visitors discover unsung talents in the art world, many of which are still creating works today. Find your new favorite artist, or use the opportunity to take in a wider range of styles and diverse perspectives that may not be on display at classic art museums.
At the Museum of Contemporary Art, there’s always a new piece of breathtaking art to see, and something new to learn from it.
The Collection Galleries
An exploration of light, abstraction, color, and pop art - the Collection Galleries feature carefully selected works from the museum’s large collection, all of which have been thoughtfully arranged to communicate a message and help museum visitors develop a better understanding of contemporary art.
Since 1969, the Museum of Contemporary Art has been dedicated to collecting the works of twentieth century artists. In the museum’s early days, these included pieces by Miriam Shapiro, Agnes Martin, Ellsworth Kelly, and Larry Bell, many of which have works that are still on display to this day.
Throughout the years, the collection has only expanded, incorporating more modern artists and highlighting artists of different countries that often don’t get as much recognition as their American contemporaries.
Since the recent renovation, each room in the art gallery represents a particular period of art or a specific movement, showcasing select works from the relevant time period.
Rooms may also be themed around a particular artist’s work, a given subject material, or other similarities between works of different decades, showing how artists have sought to depict and influence social movements throughout the years.
The Inaugural Collection installation is on view until April 9, 2024.
Eleanor Antin
San Diego artist Eleanor Antin documented their cross-country trip, from Solana Beach to New York City, with the photograph series - 100 Boots. The staging of the boots and trip took over two years to complete.
Included in the exhibit are pieces by the King of Solana Beach, Antin’s alter ego.
Eleanor Antin is on view until April 14, 2024.
My Barbarian
Works by the theatrical collective My Barbarian (Malik Gaines, Jade Gordon, and Alexandro Segade) deliver many of the same key elements Antin’s conceptual art is known for.
Visitors will see works that reference the legacies of California’s countercultural era, mythical conflicts, social issues, and more.
My Barbarian is on view until April 14, 2024.
The Sculpture Garden
Wander along this seaside garden to view site-specific installations and sculptures.
From steel and glass to plastic and concrete to the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, you won’t want to miss this exhibit.
Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s–Today
Over 20 Caribbean and Caribbean-Descendant artists came together to create the first major group exhibit that explores a contemporary art approach to the Caribbean diaspora.
With the 90s as a backdrop, visitors can explore the themes of identity, place, and connectivity.
Forecast opens April 18, 2024 and will be on display until July 28, 2024.
For Dear Life: Art, Medicine, and Disability
A cross of art and science, For Dear Life explores the artistic response to sickness, health, and medicine.
San Diego’s position in both the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and as a hub for health science research will serve as a background for this series that focuses on community and healing.
Like Forecast, this exhibit will be a first of its kind!
For Dear Life: Art, Medicine, and Disability opens September 19, 2024 and will be on display until February 2, 2025.