Oceanside Museum of Art

Fascinating evening enjoying the OMA Swell Plates evening. Such a cool concept enjoying tasting dishes at the same time and experience creative artwork and recommend checking out future events. Always a fantastic time visiting and definitely check it out.

What a local treasure! Open, breezy space. Something to experience for diverse tastes. Younger children may do ok if supervised. Everyone working or volunteering there were exceedingly friendly, helpful, engaging.

First, I visited the student part of the museum, and I didn't find it attractive, but after that, I went to the professional part and the second floor which I recommend you to visit for sure. This was a different world. The creativity in the art pieces will amaze you. The installation is perfect. I enjoyed my visit.

A gem of an art museum with excellent range and quality of exhibits. A cultural oasis in North County, with visitors coming from LA, Orange and Riverside Counties, Camp Pendleton, all parts of the US, and of course, throughout San Diego. Not precocious, welcoming staff, a joy to visit with or without kids! Award-winning educational programs for all ages. Free parking!

We had our wedding ceremony and reception here. We loved how flexible the space and the venue were. We had multiple local food and drink vendors with no issue. We brought our own flowers and decor and rented equipment. It was awesome! Plenty of room for our 50 guests to mingle, dance, sit and eat. The band set up was great. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a great value and flexibility.

We held an event at the OMA for Triumph Motorcycles. Our room rental turned into a full collaboration with the museum which was amazing. The museum were really supportive with special thanks to Nicola and Sarah who helped develop the plan. We held receptions in the evening and had our displays spread around the full museum for day visitors to see also. I would recommend the OMA for a location for an event in the Oceanside area any day!

We were there for the free day/ pom pom event. It was a beautiful day which made it a great event to attend. The art was amazing I do not know how people have such patience to make such amazing prices. I was very impressed with the clothing art. Made from a verity of materials such as rice, popcorn, sea shells and so much more. Love that they will have a free event every first of the Sunday of this month. I hope it attracts more people by doing this.

Ladies at front desk were professional and helpful. Admission tickets are reasonably priced. Two floors of great local art. Gift shop with books, art prints, shirts,hoodies and hats. Clean well lit facility. Recommend stopping in.

The Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is all about bringing people together to explore the art and stories of Southern California artists. OMA has everything this art lover is looking for and more. Their staff are super friendly and helpful contributing to the welcoming atmosphere of my museum experience. The exhibitions are always intriguing...current ones like The Art of Autism, Fabulous Fiber, Space Between, Stories that Connect Us, and Ventana Huichola are captivating. I love "The Touch This" experience. It's a fantastic opportunity to touch the art! My inner child enjoys this connection. The educational workshops for all ages are usually hands-on and engaging. There's FREE Art For All on the 1st Sundays from 12pm-2pm to join the fun art-making experience led by artists and cultural partners from the community. If you want to conversate with local artists, there's a FREE Coffee & Conversation also happening at the same time and of course other events with artists/educators to register for. All in all, OMA is by far the BEST museum I've been to. It definitely stimulates my mind and senses. Highly recommended!

This is such a cute museum, the staff are very friendly and helpful at answering any questions. I love how they offer free visits the 1st Sunday of the month. They also offer discounts to students and seniors. I really like how open it is, which allows you view at your own pace and not feel rushed or crowded by others. I'll definitely be back

Came last night with Discover and Go passes for the family and stayed less than an hour as most of the exhibits were closed. Not sure why folks took issue with the docent, as she was both friendly and respectful. Glad that we didn't have to pay as there wasn't much to see. It was basically a room or so of surf stuff. Might come back if they bring on additional exhibits. Love that it's right across St. Mary Church! There were some exhibits that seemed dark. Kids didn't like the room with the sound exhibits. Not sure why it's dark like that - kinda creepy. And the store downstairs also looked like an abandoned warehouse from outside.

Kids and hubby had a blast!! Came all the way from Texas! Worker was super friendly and nice, she answered all our questions.

Please do not sleep on the Oceanside Museum of Art. This is a wonderful place to see and support both local artist, world known artist and even the youth. Today we came for a Black History Month Discussion also hosted by the North County African American Women's Association (NCAAWA). We heard from Marshall Toomey, Laura Williams and Kevin "Blax" Burroughs with mediator Mrs. Elaine Swann. The event was a big success. I loved every minute of it. Each month is something new and the galas here are incredible. Afterwards we had a few light refreshments. You can see the ocean from there or take a walk down to the beach and see all of downtown Oceanside. There is an elevator because it's 2 stories. There's a little store attached to purchase items. It doesn't cost that much to be a member. Check out the museum and bring your family and friends. You may be there an hour or two at the most.

I have visited Oceanside before but during my previous visits I didn't have the chance to check out the Art Museum which is easy to find in downtown, behind the Library. This time around I read about a cool exhibit they have on view, of the artist John Halaka, very topical these days. The museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays, from 11am-5pm, Friday they are open till 8 pm. Check their site for updates since they held events here. Regular ticket $10, we were able to save $2 per person from a coupon from the Visitor center's guide! Frankly, I am glad we did save on admission because the museum is small, besides the Halaka's exhibit which is timely and very interesting, the other 2 showcase art created by local artists, the talents vary, a tad on the repetitive side, using same themes, same local landmarks. On the annoying side that interfered to our visit, a few things. They had a docent volunteer lurking around too much while you are just looking at art, eager to come and talk to everyone. I prefer to keep to myself and form my opinions. I felt watched and it didn't let me enjoy the art on display as much as it should have. Also, they were preparing for an event and the front desk was more absent, not attentive due to dealing with that. On top, the folks putting the event together were making a lot of noise so it didn't make for a pleasant visit. Nice and big gift shop. I wish the quality of the exhibits was better and it wasn't so much going on, especially if you charge admission that day. So mixed feeling! Nice building, great design! Not eager to repeat a visit here, though!

As an artist, I support the arts! Oceanside Museum is a small but inviting gallery/museum, that hosts a variety of interesting works. If you are looking for so called, famous artists, you are not going to find their work here. That's completely understandable. It takes big bucks for that to happen. What you will find though, is a representation of historical as well as interesting current artist's works. If you go? And don't like what you see? Try them again, because it's always changing. I recall a fabulous quilt show once. I was overwhelmed by them, as it was fascinating how many different ideas were presented in textiles. Remember, art is subjective, so you might not resonate with what is being shown one time, while you might the next. Keep trying and broaden your horizons. Fund raising for this museum is ongoing. Hats off to them and bless their hearts for that kind of dedication. Support the arts and artists! .

Constantly rotating exhibits. Every three to six months. I've included pictures and descriptive signs of the exhibits that were there when we were there. We were fascinated first by Melissa Meier. Her creations were awe inspiring, jaw dropping, and beautiful. It was hard to believe they were real. Also, different, amazingly creative, beautifully executed oil painting creations were exhibits by Robert Xavier Burden. Both exhibits were a wonderful combination of being professionally presented and light hearted and humorous. That was on the first floor. The second floor also had a variety of wonderful modern art exhibits which were also extremely creative. The staff was welcoming, informative, fun and friendly. They made the museum even better.

The free art Sundays are the best we look forward to them every month! Plus they are so nice , always have snacks and even complimented my service Dog Medusa for being so good

I enjoyed the exhibits and the curation of the gift shop, as well as a the extension fabric arts display at the SeaBird.

I came here for the first time on a private group tour from The University Club ... and was pleasantly surprised with this museum. It is small, about the size of a Manhattan art gallery, but the curators make excellent use of the space to exhibit works by contemporary San Diego area artists. The current special exhibition "Legacy: 25 Years of Art and Community" celebrates the Museum's 25th Anniversary. The Art Auction Preview Exhibition precedes the Museum's annual summer fundraiser. It's a great way to experience works by scores of local artists.

Wonderful museum. I have never been disappointed with their exhibits- there is always something of interest- if not on the first floor, then on the second floor- where I have discovered some gems!

Terrific metro art feeling but still in a small city. The place is immaculate and modern. Very well placed hallways and lighting to accentuate the art on canvas, linen and demin even. A MUST VISIT.

I took my daughter here for her first museum exhibit and it was so lovely! The gal at the front desk Susan was so helpful and explained all the exhibits to us and answered my toddlers questions. She let us know the first Sunday of every month is typically free and the exhibits change every 3months. The place itself is beautiful, the bathroom is super clean plus the little gift shop is super rad. They had a lot of little unique jewelry, books, prints and so much more. If you like art go check it out!

Big museums in major cities with huge endowments and headline-grabbing shows get the lion's share of attention. They often deserve kudos, but at the same time, there's more to curating and exploring art than you get at the mega-museums. Case-in-point: OMA. I spent the Memorial Day weekend in Oceanside and I always like to visit this little gem when I'm in town. Smaller museums can't compete with the big ones on major exibits, and the smart ones don't try. Instead, like OMA, they will focus on areas that they are better equipped to showcase: works by local artists, art that explores the local scene or history, and art that might be overlooked by a big museum. In past years, I have seen shows about WPA-funded art by local artists (involving a trip to the local post office to see a mural there), watercolors of local subjects, books produced by letterpress publishers in the region, and on this latest visit, in the small upstairs gallery, a powerful exhibit by a local artist focusing on their experience with their family as an immigrant who is also trans. It would be a shame to spend time in Oceanside and miss out on this opportunity.

We recently rented out the lobby and patio of the Oceanside Museum of Art for a reception for about 125 people. The venue worked out perfectly for our needs and the staff was excellent. Special shout out to Nicola Adams for helping us pull our event together on very short notice and going the extra mile to make sure we had what we needed and didn't forget anything.

Can I give this 4.5 stars? For a small art museum, it is fantastic. It is more like a terrific art gallery, where the art is not for sale, but for the enjoyment of all. On the first Friday of each month, entry after 5:00 PM is free. During the summer (as I understand it), First Friday Art Walk has musicians, other artists in the area, and more. We were impressed with the quality and variety of the art that was on display.

Nice museum with great arts collection and perfect for holding special cozy personal events, like cocktails party, proms and graduation, very nice and professional, parking also easy to find

I went in check out the sidewalk activism exhibit featuring art by Shepard Fairey. The space is really nice and they have two levels. I never know there was something like this in Oceanside. Admission of free for military, seniors and children.

Oceanside truly deserves bragging rights for this very fine cultural offering. The current exhibit of plein air paintings should not be missed. Delicious views of this extraordinary town and seashore, people and buildings from the past century. This is the second such event and showcases work from seasoned oil and water color painters to aspiring students. Just a joyful viewing experience. Also on exhibit until November is an astounding collection of WPA era paintings called "Art For The People: WPA-Era Paintings from the Dijkstra Collection." Free for students, active military and children under 17, $5.00 for seniors, and a still very reasonable $10 for adults. Well worth every penny! There are also free monthly events where anyone can be a creative artist, with supplies and gentle guidance provided. Check the calendar.

First time here I was surprised to hear that it's free for military so I didn't have to pay but I did make a donation though. Seeing how it wasn't very busy one of the employees was more than happy to give me a tour and explain a lot of the art. This museum is big it has two stories and a gift store with lots of cool stuff to buy. I thought the museum was going to be just alright but I was wrong. Its very nice, open, clean and calm. This is definitely a nice date spot in downtown Oceanside.

OSide is a great place n San Diego to explore. I'd recommend adding the OSide Mussum of Art to your day. Our visit lasted about an hour.

We were visiting in the area and are museum enthusiasts. Upon entering the OMA, we were impressed by the beautiful location and building. The inside was professional, and also appealing. Unfortunately, we were there to see the paintings and were very put off by the theme of the paintings. It seemed to be more on the disturbing side of artwork versus something that lifts your spirits, and admire. There were definitely some artists with some great skill and talent, but the theme itself just took down the enjoyment. DISRUPTION exhibit was not our vibe. There was also a section that surprisingly was labeled queer with a warning sign of disturbing images which quite frankly I find offensive, especially if you were with children or with your grandparents. Poor taste, and not the place to be displaying this type of imagery. Unfortunately, this experience did not leave us feeling the desire to return.

First time at this Oceanside little gem of a museum. You can buy the art as well. Very modern and interactive pieces. Yes interactive! Very nice and friendly staff. It is by the pier near the fire station- not too big but very cool. They have a cute big gift shop with all kinds of crafty goodies

Besides the changing exhibits, this museum is just plain wonderful! They give guided tours, have speakers series and even art classes. What's not to love?

If you are a Disney fan and you happen to be in the Oceanside area, stop by to see the Rolly Crump exhibit - the Imagineer behind the "its a small world" clock and many other cool designs! After a weekend in San Diego, husband and I decided to swing by Oceanside to check out the Rolly Crump exhibit (on now to February 2018 I think). Admission was $8 for the whole museum, which is small, but we enjoyed taking our time exploring this little seaside space. There are discounts available, and the cashier will ask you if you qualify before selling you tickets. We came specifically for the Rolly Crump exhibit but many of the other ones were interesting - especially as they represent issues like animal conservation and the border/immigration issues. Bonus - this location is walking distance to The Stone Brewing Co. Oceanside spot so you can grab a beer afterwards! Definitely stop by to check out the whimsical exhibit and museum.

I was pleasantly surprised with this Art Museum. The art was funky and space agey but it was really good art. I'll definitely check this out again in another 6 months of so. The price was right and easy parking too. We really enjoyed this visit.

I don't find myself in Oceanside often, but for those of you you don't know it has a fairly high percentage of military personnel - it isn't in Twentynine Palms numbers, but still very pro armed forces. Keep this in mind when you wander about and act right. lol. What I really enjoyed about this museum was its Healing Journeys and Scarred For Life exhibits. The first has bronze sculptures, photos, and installation art from vets and those in active duty. The latter had powerful bios and monoprints (taken from scarred bodies) to show and tell about life scars, car accidents, suicides, assaults and war. This was powerful and memorable. My husband and I read through the majority of the room and even discussed the pieces with other visitors. This was really eye-opening in that the pieces inspired conversation. I've been to well known museums all over the world and NO ONE is there standing around smiling, and discussing the art on the wall with strangers. You can do that here! There was an employee at the John Dillemuth: Gomos And Contraptions exhibit who showed how each piece worked. I was amazed at the intricate details and how the parts fit and flowed. She turned and moved and made the pieces talk and come to life! Some might not "get it" but that is the point of art and I really liked the way this museum presented its artwork. You don't have to sit, stare wide-eyed and pretend to be in a state of analysis. Everything is what it is yet also up for interpretation. I'm not so much into MOMA and Renoir, but this was up my alley if that means anything... I loved the exhibits, the staff and the small gift shop. First Sunday of the month is free. I have no idea how the surf museum has more reviews than the Oceanside Museum of Art!?!

We come to Oceanside at least once a year and sometimes more. We always make sure we visit the art museum. It has a variety of different exhibits and we have enjoyed them all. We always go to art museums when we are traveling and honestly, Oceanside's rivals many of the big cities in the variety and quality of the exhibits. We highly recommend visiting it, promise you won't be disappointed!

This museum is surprisingly interactive and was engaging for my two kids (7 and 9). Only needs to pay my admission which was cheap at $8. The kiddos got in for free, yay. Went on a cloudy Sunday over Memorial Day weekend. It wasn't crowded at all and we were able to explore the artists' works with ease and little pressure to "keep it moving." The exhibits rotate on a regular basis. My fave was Valya:She which showcased a brilliant red, larger than life embroidery piece in one large space. Beware, though, that this particular exhibit is NOT one of the interactive ones. Strictly hands-off. My kids enjoyed the Roland Reiss tableaux scenes which were quirky and reminded them of school diorama projects. It didn't take us more than an hour to view all the artwork both upstairs (where Surrealism is on exhibit) and down. Will definitely come back when the works are rotated.

What a cute place! I've lived in North County San Diego for a while and even go to the church right in front of this place but didn't check it out until my friends recommended it. Staff were friendly and noticed we were students, which meant we got free admission. The place was quiet and not too crowded, and there were 2 floors of cool art to check out. Glad we found this little gem in Oceanside!

My husband is a huge Disney buff and found out about the Rolly Crump exhibit here. We both paid the $5 for the audio tour which did not disappoint! Definitely recommend it and it was under 30 minutes. The museum was clean, spacious and the staff were all so friendly and helpful. The exhibit was well structured and very colorful! I enjoyed the little extra bits of Disney that we did not previously know. NOT kid friendly though, just FYI. Quite a few pieces were rather, adult. Overall a fun experience and a short walk to the pier! A fun afternoon for sure.

FREE for military and students. Discounts for seniors...thats the goods. Admission is pretty cheap anyway at 8 bucks. I'm not bashing California impressionism, but I wasn't really impressed with the current exhibits on hand. Nothing called to me on this particular visit. They had 4 exhibits and my total time there was about 17 minutes...maybe less than that, so you can tell by the quality of stuff they had. Note: This was my experience...and it may be better for you :) "Quilt Visions 2010, No Boundaries" - Basically a bunch of quilts on display. They either had the heat on or turned off the air conditioning, but I felt like taking a nap on one of their quilts....which is a good thing I guess. This exhibit is located on the first floor right next to the admission desk...and there was too much chit chat amongst the employees for me to get fully immersed into this exhibit. Even if they weren't giggling or laughing, I still probably would not have enjoyed it as much. "Defying Expectations" - Contemporary Native American Art from the San Diego Region. I didnt see much here, a couple of talking and singing rocks or something. Kinda fooled me for a minute or so...but I was like..hey...rocks don't talk...only bushes. Yes bushes sing, just see the Three Amigos. Again, limited in art and sculptures. "Looking Back / Moving Forward" - Contemporary Mexican American Art. I have nothing to report here. "Focus on Oceanside" - This one actually had some depth. A lot of pictures and photos on random people all over the Oceanside area. The pictures show people in their natural state of being...not bad. Finally an interactive piece called "Liquid" Basically just walking through a bunch of fishing lines to simulate rain or water or something. It just gets tangled all over your clothing. I was expecting a little more art and pictures, but you just have to accept what they have available. Maybe in a few months or so when some new exhibits come in, I might check it out...IF AND ONLY IF I'm already in the Ocenside area AND I've had a beer or two to give me the liquid courage to come back here. But hey...it's free for military, students!!! Score!!!

Surprisingly well thought out and eclectic museum for its size. Located in what was once the city hall building in downtown Oceanside, it contains 2 galleries and a nice gift shop. The docents are very enthusiastic regarding their installations and want to make everyone gets something out of their visit. Take a day off from the beach and enjoy!

Best Regional Museum. It's a gem!!! Openings are amazing. If you're new in town, or not, you will meet the most friendly and motivating group of people who love art, innovation and creativity.

It's nice to have a reliable art museum in North County, Oceanside. I have found it to be clean and organized with a clear idea of the main exhibit. They also sponsor special art classes and events.

The exhibits at the Oceanside Museum of Att were over the top awesome. They expanded the very depth of art and culture through watercolor and a variety of mediums. Love this experience. Jeanne Philippus Artist The Shard Studio

Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. Love that they redesign the space for each exhibit rather then putting new pieces on the same old walls. This is a wonderful museum that I really hope the community continues to get behind.

Looking for something fun to do on a cloudy day? I suggest checking this place out! The docents even make it fun for little ones. We brought a 4 and a 6 year old and they were engaged the entire time!

Beautiful 2 story space. Lots of natural light. Unusual pieces of art and sculpture on display. Extremely helpful, knowledgable and friendly staff. A gem of a museum and a must see.

This review is only about Beauty in the beast exhibition by Neville Page. I was here for Neville Page's exhibition. His work was nicely presented and the presentation was very inspiring. The younger museum staff were friendlier and helpful. I will definitely coming back if he will holds another exhibition in the future.

Upon my arrival in Oceanside, I was pleasantly surprised by this museum. I was not expecting such a high-class museum in such a sleepy little beach town. We stopped by on a lark one afternoon when we were cruising around downtown. They had a great pop art exhibit and the other, larger, gallery featured local San Diego artists. We were stunned to realize that we had just missed the previous exhibit which focused on the art of tattoo! Looking at their exhibition calendar it was obvious this is a place was worthy of our support. The next exhibits featured a San Diego lowbrow art exhibit and an exhibit of art quilts. Really, you don't even get such great exhibits at some of the larger museums. We became members on our second trip there. Haven't had the chance to check out any special events yet, but I'm sure we will soon. If you haven't seen this place yet, make the trip to O'side and check it out. Go ahead and pay the price to become a member - it will definitely be worth it. And, for the love, check out the lowbrow art exhibit NOW. You will see history in the making.

Last night a group of us went to the Quilt Show. " Quilt show" is a pale word for this for this exhibit. This is fabric art of the highest degree, captivating and moving. It planted seeds of communication within each of us. This isn't the sewing circle quilts of our ancestors; pretty and utilitarian. These are pieces of art that women have poured time and thought into. There is a serenity mixed in action that is amplified in each piece. Don't miss this exhibit

This is a wonderful hidden gem in the heart of downtown Oceanside! I still come across so many people that have lived in Oceanside or nearby for all of their lives and have no clue that we have a museum. There are 2 main galleries downstairs on the first level and two smaller galleries upstairs. Each of the 4 galleries typically has a rotating exhibition in it, and a lot of times they are local artists. There is a wonderful James Hubbell statue outside. The museum also holds some great events! Art After Dark is held about 3 to 4 times per year and always has a theme around the event usually based off of some of the current exhibits at the time. The one around Halloween is my favorite--this past year was Day of the Dead themed and most people dress up and there is great food catered with local beers and wines, craft and photo stations, costume contests, live music, live art, etc. Jazz at the Museum is also great to see live music and explore the current exhibits. Become a member because it is a great price for families or individuals and you will get free entrance, some guest passes, discounts on event prices, and even a discount in the museum store that has a great mix of eclectic and fun gifts.

I decided it had been too long since I had been to visit some art. I was looking to see which museum to drive to, when I noticed Oceanside had an art museum that I had never visited. My husband and I went up and really enjoyed the art exhibits that were on display then. Lots of interesting variety. Very friendly staff and volunteers. We received a recommendation for a burger place to eat from staff, which was 2 blocks away (Ty's Burger House ) and the restaurant was really delicious. When we finished eating we happened to be right on time for a walk down to the pier to catch an amazing sunset. All in all, a wonderful time in Oceanside.

I came here on a Tues during Museum Month for half price ($4). There is free parking in the garage across the street next to the Civic Center. There were 3 exhibits on display and it took me less than an hour to make it through them all, reading all the plaques and looking at all the displays. I started with the Quilt Visions. This seems to be a very popular exhibit, especially with older ladies. It was the busiest room. Some of the designs on the quilts were pretty interesting. There was another exhibit on the main floor with black and white botanical photography of Imogen Cunningham. Upstairs were photographs by Carolyn Guild. She is very Ansel Adams like, but takes scenic photos more close up. I really enjoyed her photos. Overall, I enjoyed visiting this art museum. I'm planning on visiting others in SD County, so I'll see how they compare. It's a nice little gallery to spend an hour or so. I'd definitely go back.

Another wonderful example of how great a culture and art scene we have here in North County. It is a walking distance away from the actual pier, which a a great thing!

A small museum with decent art but I would not drive across cities to look at this stuff. There wasn't a single piece from a famous artist that I knew of. The gift shop was lacking as well. Not that I wanted to buy anything, but I would have liked the option of buying a magnet featuring some of the art they have in their museum but this is the first museum I've come across that does not provide you with themed magnets. How are you supposed to show others you're cultured by way of the magnets on your fridge?

Quality works and clean environment, reasonable pricing. The art was mostly geared towards women, but enjoyable enough for anyone.