Message from the Interim Museum Director

Dear Friends,

This is an extraordinary moment for UC Irvine, for our museum, and for our community. With UC Irvine’s acquisition of the Orange County Museum of Art, we have united two remarkable institutions to form the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art — one of California’s most dynamic centers for art, research, and public engagement.

What this means is simple yet profound: Orange County will always have a world-class art museum that reflects the creativity and innovation that make this region so inspiring. Together, our Irvine and Costa Mesa locations bring more than 9,000 works of art under one umbrella — from pioneering California artists like Ruth Asawa, Richard Diebenkorn, and Ed Ruscha, to visionary contemporary voices such as Judy Baca, Carolina Caycedo, and Hank Willis Thomas.

We are also proud to welcome the talented OCMA staff into our UC Irvine team. Their expertise and passion strengthen our already shared commitment to presenting bold exhibitions and programs that connect art to the issues shaping our time.

As part of a world-class research university, our museum will be a laboratory for ideas — where art intersects with science, technology, health, business, and the environment. We’re excited to expand opportunities for students, faculty, and the community to collaborate, create, and discover together.

Both our Costa Mesa and Irvine locations remain open — and free to all — offering even more ways to experience art and inspiration. Whether you visit our galleries, attend a program, or simply take a moment to reflect, we invite you to find a sense of wonder and connection here.

Thank you for being part of this new chapter with us. We can’t wait to see you soon.

Warmly and gratefully yours,