Join OMA’s Free First Sundays for Art for All! Each month, OMA welcomes friends and neighbors on Free First Sundays to join in Art for All, our fun hands-on art-making experience led by artists and cultural partners from our community.

For this special Art for All, we’re thrilled to welcome the MiraCosta College Print Club in conjunction with the Matrix Multiplied exhibition. Participants can create simple silk screen prints on tote bags and cardstock (all materials provided), exploring repetition, layering, and the fundamentals of printmaking alongside emerging artists.

Whether you’re new to art or have your own creative flow, Art for All is the time to let your imagination soar. Visit our current exhibitions to spark your creativity! Explore different art-making materials through creative projects at each session while learning from local and regional artists. Check back each month to see what we’re up to next!

These informal drop-in workshops are open to all ages. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials are provided free of charge, while supplies last. All levels welcome!

Ticket Prices:

Free

FIRST LOOK!

Join us at Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) for a Community Open House on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 12:00–4:00pm to learn all about the Museum's planned expansion into historic Fire Station No. 1 and get a sneak peek into the extended space. Enjoy free admission and free art workshops inspired by our Matrix Multiplied exhibition and the architecture of Irving J. Gill.

12:00–2:00pm: Free Art for All Art Workshops

2:00–3:00pm: Presentation  |   In Our Backyard: Architectural Vision, Then and Now

Join us for a conversation with experts in their field about Oceanside’s history in the late 1920’s, the presence of bold modernist architecture designed by Irving J. Gill, and OMA’s plans for conscientious preservation and innovative adaptive reuse in sustaining a full city block of landmark Gill buildings.

This presentation strives to build awareness and pride in Oceanside’s cultural identity and legacy. It is an opportunity to learn about Gill’s significance within historical context and to embrace the Museum’s enduring commitment to vibrant community engagement.

Panelists include:

Ricardo Rabines, Safdie Rabines Architects

Kristi Hawthorne, Director of the Oceanside Historical Society

Heath Fox, Curator for the Irving J. Gill Foundation

The panel presentation is offered free of charge from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in the Groves Gallery. All are welcome.

3:00–4:00pm: Light Refreshments Provided

Join us for Studio Arts, when OMA transforms into an artist’s studio, offering skill-building workshops led by distinguished professor and arts educator Robin Douglas.

Inspired by world renowned artists, you will explore different media, techniques and subjects found in an artist’s studio. After a brief slide presentation for inspiration and context the session will continue with demonstrations.

Multiple Printmaking Techniques

In conjunction with OMA’s exhibition featuring 20 contemporary printmakers, this studio will explore a variety of techniques on quality papers and other surfaces. Mono printing as well as multi-layered processes will be explored with several hand-pulled prints.

This full day workshop held from 10:00am–2:00pm is meant to get you in the art making groove and develop new approaches to seeing and creating artworks. Whether you have a lifetime practice or are new to expressing yourself, we exchange ideas and techniques in a supportive and challenging environment. Students of all levels are welcome to stretch their creative muscles and build community with us.

All supplies and light refreshments for each workshop are included in the cost. A break for lunch and relaxed discussion will occur midday. Please bring your own bagged lunch or feel free to visit one of the restaurants close by on our provided list.

Ticket Prices:

Adult: $100

Member: $70

Space is limited. Register today!

Relax over a steaming cup of coffee while engaging in lively conversations with local fellow artists and explore the captivating exhibitions at OMA for free. OMA's Artist Alliance extends a warm invitation to sculptors, painters, photographers, and artists of all backgrounds to join in the experience.

Finding the Thread: Themes That Hold Your Work Together

All artists have recurring obsessions. Discover the connective tissue of your work.

Audience Takeaway: Identify one theme they return to over and over.

Presenter Prompt: Show two to three pieces that reveal a through-line in your art. Presenter to be determined*

*Please submit your name and website to cathy@artstudiosandiego.com to be selected as a presenter.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

In this virtual workshop series, artists are invited to turn their journal into a studio companion and idea incubator. Through interactive Zoom sessions we'll explore simple, repeatable practices artists can use to generate content, clarify ideas, and deepen connection to their work.

MARCH TOPIC: WHAT IS YOUR ARCHETYPE, AND HOW CAN YOU USE IT TO WRITE FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW?

In this interactive journaling workshop, you’ll:

- Explore your core values and creative motivations

-Use guided journaling prompts to uncover your personal “Why”

-Shape words that inspire your art, fuel your career, and connect you with audiences

You will receive a Zoom link in the emailed RSVP confirmation receipt.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Explore how artificial intelligence can become a creative ally in both your studio practice and professional growth. This workshop introduces artists to AI tools like ChatGPT, demonstrating how to craft effective prompts, streamline writing tasks such as statements and bios, and spark new ideas. We’ll also cover SEO basics and simple strategies to make your work easier to find online, with practical website examples using Wix. Participants will leave with clear, actionable ways to use AI to support their creativity and strengthen their digital presence.

A limited number of scholarships are available for artists who wish to attend but cannot support the fees at this time, contact katie@oma-online.org to inquire.

Ticket Prices:

Adult: $65

Member: $60

Artist Alliance Member: $50

Join us for Music at the Museum, an unforgettable night of art, flavor, and live performance! Your ticket includes food and drinks provided by 333 Pacific, the beloved coastal restaurant known for its elevated menu and signature cocktails.

 Headlining the evening is electrifying blues guitarist Johnny "V" Vernazza, whose powerhouse career includes touring and recording with icons like Chuck Berry, Greg Allman, George Thorogood, Charlie Daniels, and Elvin Bishop, and whose signature slide guitar helped define the Southern rock sound. 

Set within OMA’s inspiring galleries and creative atmosphere, this high-energy night of music, cuisine, and community is a celebration you won’t want to miss. 

Reserved Tables seat 4 people and include the cost of admission.

Adult and Member tickets can be purchased individually for standing room. 

This is a 21+ only event.

Ticket Prices:

Reserved Table: $400

Adult: $85

Member: $65

Paint the cute umbrellas and victorian architecture, guests enjoying their pie, the steers views, or the nearby pier views. Free parking at the lot at the corner of Seagaze and S Cleveland drives or metered street parking. Public restrooms available nearby at the pier.

Open to All Levels!

Whether you're a seasoned plein air painter or just starting your artistic journey, this event is for you! Beginners and experienced painters can find fresh inspiration in the urban and natural landscape.

How to Participate:

Register for the event on the San Diego Plein Air Painters Meetup Group site: https://www.meetup.com/painter-86/

Bring your painting supplies, easel, and canvases. Don't forget sunscreen and a hat for the California sun!

This is a non-instructional event.

Paint to your heart's content and enjoy the dynamic surroundings.

Become an OMA Artist Alliance Member:

Join and learn more about Artist Alliance and the activities at Oceanside Museum of Art at: https://oma-online.org/membership/

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Hangar 76

OMA Artist Alliance members and their guests are invited to gather each month for a lively social meetup hosted at rotating venues throughout San Diego and North County. These informal get-togethers offer a relaxed opportunity to connect with fellow artists, share ideas, and build community while exploring a range of hotspots across the region. Whether you’re catching up with familiar faces or meeting someone new, each gathering encourages conversation, collaboration, and camaraderie within the Artist Alliance network.

This is a no-host event, attendees are welcome to purchase their own food and beverages.

Kick off your weekend with a bite-sized happy hour version of our renowned Studio Arts workshops. Gather with friends in an artistic space designed to amplify your creative side.

Join arts educator Robin Douglas, as we dip our toes into the work of celebrated artists over drinks and nibbles, followed by a rapid demonstration of their styles. You’ll then be guided to interpret these artists and create your own singular, spectacular work of art. We’ll help you express your unique style and ensure you have a blast doing it.

Food Paintings

Create your ideal culinary and visual delight in paint using heavy-bodied pigments and modeling paste. Real, luscious, and edible food will be provided as inspiration and shared at the end of the session during critique.

All levels of experience are encouraged to participate. OMA provides food, drinks and supplies; all you have to do is get yourself out of work, grab your friends, and have fun!

Ticket Prices:

Adult: $65

Member: $50

Space is limited. Register today!