UC Irvine Negotiating to Acquire Control of Orange County Museum of Art: Latest Updates in LA's Art and Cultural Sphere
The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and UC Irvine's Langson Institute and Museum of California Art (Langson IMCA) have inked a non-binding letter of intent to tie the knot, as per recent strides! If the university's bigwigs, notably the University of California Board of Regents, green-light the deal in the fall, OCMA will go from being an independent gallery cat to a proud collective paw of UC Irvine.
Heidi Zuckerman, the museum's CEO, announced in December that she would hang up her curatorial hat, and a week before the OCMA was set to kick off its 2025 California Biennial, "Desperate, Scared, But Social." David Emmes, OCMA board chair, hinted at the transformation, expressing optimism about the potential partnership, which he believes would fuel the museum's mission, broaden its impact, and bolster its regional prestige.
The Morphosis-designed OCMA building, a 53,000 square foot stunner that cost a pretty penny, opened in 2022, drawing an overwhelming 10,000 visitors in its first day. Despite its price tag and architectural brilliance, it didn't quite complete the job, with critics raising eyebrows over its unfinished appearance.
The merger would blend OCMA's contemporary collection, which spans a broader scope, with UC Irvine's California art focus, which skews towards early 20th-century California Impressionism. This union would also bring the Buck Collection under OCMA's wing, a treasure trove of artwork, including pieces by Joan Brown, Jay DeFeo, Richard Diebenkorn, David Hockney, and Ed Ruscha, which Gerald Buck bequeathed to UC Irvine prior to his untimely demise in 2017.
University of California, Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman expressed enthusiasm for the prospective alliance, stating that the collaboration would expand art accessibility, deepen engagement with California's artistic legacy, and foster new generations of creators and scholars.
Stay tuned for further developments! In the meantime, wear your art hat and don't miss the OCMA's "Desperate, Scared, But Social" Biennial from 12/3 to 1/4!
- The potential partnership between the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and UC Irvine's Langson Institute and Museum of California Art (Langson IMCA) could bolster OCMA's regional prestige, broaden its impact, and fuel its mission in entertainment, culture, and arts.
- The merger would combine OCMA's contemporary collection, focusing on a broader scope, with UC Irvine's California art focus, leaning towards early 20th-century California Impressionism, thereby enriching both institutions' offerings in California's artistic legacy.
- The Buck Collection, a valuable art repository containing works by artists such as Joan Brown, Jay DeFeo, Richard Diebenkorn, David Hockney, and Ed Ruscha, could be brought under OCMA's wing and become an integral part of the merged institutions' collection.
- In Los Angeles, a city renowned for its vibrant music, movie, and real estate scene, this partnership could have significant implications for the education and entertainment sectors, encouraging collaboration and innovation in these areas.
- The union of OCMA and Langson IMCA may also impact political discourse, as the institutions often engage in initiatives that promote social and cultural justice, a topic relevant to contemporary politics in California and beyond.
- As the University of California, Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman expressed, the alliance would contribute to increasing art accessibility, fostering new generations of creators and scholars, and engaging more deeply with California's diverse and rich artistic legacy.
