Over the past 25 years OMA has presented over 300 diverse and engaging exhibitions. Legacy: 25 Years of Art and Community is a survey of 71 exhibitions and features 130 works of art by 112 different artists that speaks to the extensive variety of artistic expressions the museum has presented over the past quarter century. From California Impressionism as seen in Masterpieces of San Diego Painting: Fifty Works from Fifty Years, 1900-1950 (2008) to Surrealism found in San Diego Surreal (2019), each one of OMA’s exhibitions reflects its mission to explore the art and stories of Southern California artists. This exhibition is organized into two galleries: the Bob and Estelle Gleason Gallery features artwork mostly from exhibitions between 1997 and 2011, while the Rusty and Bebe Grosse Gallery presents artwork from exhibitions between 2012 and 2022. 

Building a legacy takes planning, commitment, and passion to achieve something that will make an impact and withstand the test of time. This type of journey requires participation and dedication from hundreds of stakeholders. In the case of Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) this involves artists, collectors, curators, volunteers, patrons, and staff. OMA has built a legacy, with the help of the community, through its engaging exhibitions and programs that provide meaningful connections to art and creativity. 

The first eleven years at OMA saw a steady program of five exhibitions per year and a broad variety of lectures, films, and performances, all presented in the 5,000 square foot renovated 1934 Irving Gill City Hall building. When the museum expanded into the Fredrick Fisher designed Central Pavilion in 2008, the addition of 16,000 square feet and four new gallery spaces allowed OMA to produce approximately 15 art exhibitions a year. Every one of the more than 300 exhibitions featured at OMA over the past 25 years has been part of the museum’s journey to becoming a major feature in the cultural topography of Southern California. This exhibition will create new narratives while remembering the seminal role OMA has played in the history of contemporary art in our region. 

CATALOG

Purchase the fully illustrated, 72-page catalog for this exhibition in The Museum Store, $30