Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Installation view of The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection, May 19, 2019–January 27, 2020 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Zak Kelley.
Forty years since its founding in 1979, MOCA has built one of the most legendary permanent collections in the world—a continually growing archive that reflects historical depth, recent experimentation, global awareness, and an outlook significantly informed by its home in LA. To mark the museum’s 40th anniversary, this exhibition presents a selected topography of artworks that speak to the diversity and prescience of MOCA’s collecting over the past four decades. With special emphasis on works associated with the museum’s remarkable history of exhibitions,The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection shows the collection as a changing, mutating landscape of developments in contemporary art and curatorial focus, as well as the social and cultural backdrops that inform them. Featuring a diverse range of artists long- and newly-associated with the museum, the exhibition reflects a belief that MOCA’s histories and futures have always been multiple, ambitious, precious, and unique.
Artists included: Laura Aguilar, Allora & Calzadilla, Kenneth Anger, Belkis Ayón, Monika Baer, John Baldessari, Sadie Benning, Chris Burden, Robert Colescott, Liz Craft, Raúl De Nieves, Rineke Dijkstra, Marlene Dumas, Nicole Eisenman, Fischli & Weiss (Peter Fischli and David Weiss), Judy Fiskin, Llyn Foulkes, Andrea Fraser, Robert Gober, Jack Goldstein, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, David Hammons, Richard Hawkins, Larry Johnson, On Kawara, Mike Kelley, Jutta Koether, Barbara Kruger, Ketty La Rocca, Liz Larner, Deana Lawson, Jac Leirner, Zoe Leonard, Sol LeWitt, Glenn Ligon, Gordon Matta-Clark, Paul McCarthy, Rodney McMillian, Jean-Luc Moulène, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Juan Muñoz, Wangechi Mutu, Bruce Nauman, Cady Noland, Maria Nordman, Albert Oehlen, Laura Owens, Raymond Pettibon, Adrian Piper, William Pope.L, Josephine Pryde, Christina Quarles, Michael Queenland, Raha Raissnia, Charles Ray, Erika Rothenberg, Nancy Rubins, Edward Ruscha, Pieter Schoolwerth, Jim Shaw, Lorna Simpson, Keith Sonnier, Jessica Stockholder, Martine Syms, Henry Taylor, Diana Thater, Tom of Finland, Wolf Vostell, Kara Walker, Anicka Yi, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and Andrea Zittel.
The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection is organized by Bennett Simpson, Senior Curator, and Rebecca Lowery, Assistant Curator, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
Past EventArtists on Artists: Christina Quarles on The Foundation of the MuseumLecture- Past EventExhibition Walkthrough Bennett Simpson on The Foundation of the MuseumLecture
Past EventSunday Studio: Alan NakagawaWorkshop
Past EventArtists on Artists: Liz Larner on Chris BurdenLecture
Past EventMembers’ Opening: The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s CollectionMember Event
Past EventExhibition Walkthrough Bennett Simpson and Rebecca Lowery on The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s CollectionLecture
Lead underwriting for MOCA’s 40th anniversary exhibitions and programs is provided by Sean and Alexandra Parker.
Lead support is provided by The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation; Chara Schreyer and Gordon Freund; and GUESS.
Major support is provided by Kathi and Gary Cypres; Susan and David Gersh; Karyn Kohl; and GAGOSIAN.
Generous support is provided by Peter and Elizabeth Goulds, L.A. Louver; Margaret Morgan and Wesley Phoa; Charlie Pohlad; Pamela West and Collin Bernsen; DELTA, and Bank of America.
Exhibitions at MOCA are supported by the MOCA Fund for Exhibitions with generous funding provided by Dr. Alexander and Judith Angerman; Earl and Shirley Greif Foundation; Sydney Holland, founder of the Sydney D. Holland Foundation; Nathalie Marciano and Julie Miyoshi; Steven and Jerri Nagelberg; and Jonathan M. Segal through the Rhonda S. Zinner Foundation.