The museum's permanent collection was significantly bolstered by the 1984 donation of the Giuseppe Panza di Biumo collection.
Arata Isozaki’s design features a specific 'barrel vault' skylight structure inspired by the architecture of traditional Japanese shrines.
The museum's board was formed in 1979 by a group of civic and cultural leaders to address the lack of a contemporary art institution in Los Angeles.
The MOCA Grand Avenue building was one of the first major cultural projects in the 1980s revitalization of the Bunker Hill district.
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, an auxiliary site, was renovated by architect Frank Gehry before becoming part of the museum's footprint.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is the only museum in Los Angeles exclusively devoted to art from 1940 to the present. The main location on Grand Avenue was designed by architect Arata Isozaki and is characterized by its sunken courtyard and distinctive red sandstone exterior. The museum's permanent collection contains over 5,000 objects, including significant works of Pop art, Abstract Expressionism, and Minimalist art. It operates alongside the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, a converted warehouse in Little Tokyo. The institution is known for its major thematic exhibitions and focus on works by California-based artists. The Grand Avenue building features a subterranean gallery space that uses pyramid-shaped skylights to filter natural light into the lower levels. It serves as a central cultural anchor for the Bunker Hill neighborhood.
The central sunken courtyard with its geometric sandstone walls and dramatic light shafts.
Visit the secondary site, The Geffen Contemporary, if you prefer large-scale installations and industrial-style architecture.
Check the exhibition calendar online before arriving, as the museum often rotates large-scale collections between its two locations.
Utilize the museum's public archives and library collections for deeper research into post-1940 art movements.
Assuming all of MOCA's collection is housed in one building; check which site holds your desired exhibition.
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
No flash photography, no food or drinks in the galleries, and large bags must be checked.
