UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art | Costa Mesa

The Orange County Museum of Art is extraordinary, starting with its building itself, which was designed by an architect who won the Pritzker Prize, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture. Right next to it is the famous Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available at the Tower Plaza parking garage right next to the museum, but it‘s paid parking. If you prefer free parking, I recommend parking at South Coast Plaza, which is less than a 10-minute walk away. Admission is free, but backpacks are not allowed inside the museum. Photography is permitted inside the museum, but flash photography is prohibited. There is a cafe in the museum lobby selling simple snacks, and a bar and restaurant on the upper floor. As you explore the museum, you’ll feel that the building itself is a work of art. The way the interior and exterior of the museum seamlessly connect gives the impression that the building was designed freely without being confined to a rigid structure. Although the museum is not large, it‘s a great place to escape from everyday life and experience works of art.

My main reason there was to check out Deanna Templeton’s (Being a huge fan of both Mrs & Mr Templeton’s.) and the Riot grrrl collection from the Emily’s sassy lime exhibition. So glad to see and read and learn about the other artists I was not aware of. Loved everything. Specially the turn table listening samples located throughout the gallery. Super cool and very memorable, hopefully my two daughters cherish and remember the afternoon we had that day. I know I will. Pro tip given by my sister. Park your car at the South Coast plaza mall and walk over. Unless you want to pay $15 for the parking garage and walk the same amount of distance.

Pretty small museum, but honestly it’s pretty good for what it showcases. i come back every now and then to see cool stuff everytime. personally i park at the south coast mall and then walk all the way here, roughly a five minute walk, it’s not that bad since the parking is free at the mall compared to the parking structure that you have to pay for. i was allowed to walk in, you just need to check in with the front desk when you come in.

A very cozy scale museum. Contemporary style. Interesting to see how Richard Serra sculpture was respected in the design of this museum. A lot of surprise moments as you walk through the spaces. The exhibits were interesting. Staff are very helpful and cordial. Really well maintained.

Beautiful modern art museum. There were several really cool mixed media installations. Free entry, but you still need to reserve your entry. Worth the trip.

It's very clean and welcoming inside and out. Whether or not you enjoy it totally depends on what exhibit they have going. Free to get in, but parking nearby is expensive and requires a short walk.

Free museum with beautiful art! This was my first visit to this museum and we had a fun afternoon enjoying the installations. We parked one block away in the parking garage. It was $15 per vehicle. Not bad considering that the museum admission is free for everyone. Check in was a breeze. The museum is small but there was a nice variety on display when we went.

Great museum, great building, it is very beautiful, clean and it’s free. Try to buy the tickets in advance, are free. You can park at the mall for free and it’s a 5 minutes walk.

The Orange County Museum of Art carries a wide variety of contemporary art and modern art that is free to the public. There is a parking structure near the museum that charges $7 per hour, with $20 for daily parking. I stopped by to check out the "Desperate, Scared, But Social" exhibition and I walked out feeling inspired and in awe of the selection of curated pieces. I honestly wish I could pick a favorite piece, but there are too many to choose from! As somebody who enjoys and practices film and portraiture photography, it was really refreshing to see the walls covered with portraits, especially as photography is not a common medium that is presented in museums. Much of the work presented carried themes of nostalgia, archiving memories, and free spiritedness. I enjoyed how there were a few pieces in the exhibit where there were headsets so you could tune into the vinyls and TVs and be able to read some of the zines and books. I thought that this added an extra layer to the exhibition. I also wanted to add that it was a really nice touch to see the museum partner with high school students to allow them to curate pieces for "Piece of Me." It really makes art accessible to emerging artists, especially in a field where it can feel difficult to gain experience. I really enjoyed what OCMA curated for this exhibition and even picked up something from the gift shop before leaving. I look forward to the future exhibitions that OCMA has to offer.

Orange County Museum of Art is a great little museum with free admission. Since there's nothing that is permanently on display, your experience here will obviously depend on whatever is on exhibit. There's a store on the first level and a restaurant/cafe on the upper level It's not up to the caliber of the Los Angeles museums, but hey, it's free and you can't argue with the price. They recently eliminated the need to book tickets ahead of time, so you can just walk-in. There's a paid parking lot adjacent, but I always just park at South Coast Plaza and walk across.

The Orange County Museum of Art is extraordinary, starting with its building itself, which was designed by an architect who won the Pritzker Prize, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture. Right next to it is the famous Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available at the Tower Plaza parking garage right next to the museum, but it's paid parking. If you prefer free parking, I recommend parking at South Coast Plaza, which is less than a 10-minute walk away. Admission is free, but backpacks are not allowed inside the museum. Photography is permitted inside the museum, but flash photography is prohibited. There is a cafe in the museum lobby selling simple snacks, and a bar and restaurant on the upper floor. As you explore the museum, you'll feel that the building itself is a work of art. The way the interior and exterior of the museum seamlessly connect gives the impression that the building was designed freely without being confined to a rigid structure. Although the museum is not large, it's a great place to escape from everyday life and experience works of art.

The Orange County Museum of Art is a beautiful piece of architecture. With free admission, I'd recommend visiting if you like museums and want to take a walk after a meal. There is paid parking, but it takes a little over ten minutes to walk to the museum from South Coast Plaza. In front of the building stands a 65-feet-high sculpture that you can walk through. It has an interesting echoing effect. The museum's interior architecture is beautiful. An atrium provides a view of the sky at an interesting angle. Small bridges at different levels within the atrium provide for great picture settings. The first level contains the permanent collection and special exhibits, and the mezzanine has its own small gallery. The second floor has a terrace but also a cafe and bar. A lot of the art was contemporary and focused on the topic of late adolescence. The exhibits are a little small, though. You can get a quick overview of the exhibits, but they are minutely detailed. My favorite pieces of art were from the Gardena High School Art Collection. From 1919 to 1956, each graduating class would purchase a work of art as a parting gift to the student body. This turned into a renowned collection of California impressionism. I prefer browsing paintings like these in art museums, but my first time here was still fairly enjoyable.

Today I came to the OCMA my second time this summer. While the exhibits are all the same, I noticed many new things and different perspectives. Apparently I missed the Piece of Me room during my last visit and I loved it. I also had missed the exhibit on the 2nd floor and that was very cool too. I've mentioned before that contemporary art is not always my favorite, but I feel like I'm finding more and more ways to appreciate it. I also feel like there are so many ways to interpret this type of art, and that's something I really enjoy.

Well I came to visit OCMA at the worst's time ever. I came in May with my girlfriend on a Sunday afternoon. When we were starting to explore the museum, all the exhibits were under construction or closed. We only saw this selfie exhibit which wasn't the coolest thing I've ever seen lol. If this is the case, it probably should be closed to the public of disclosed at the front desk? I was very confused and disappointed. I mean their gift shop was open and they had a collage making workshop outside that saved the day. We cut up old magazines and pasted them on a paper to represent ourselves. It was really fun and therapeutic. We stayed outside for about an hour. I understand this museum is free but cmon now.

I don't often find myself in Orange County, but on my way to San Juan Capistrano, my friends and I decided to stop by the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA), and I'm so glad we did. We parked in the garage right next to the museum, as there's limited free parking nearby unless you park at South Coast Plaza. Though the museum itself is free, reservations are required through their online website. I had already reserved tickets prior to showing up and recommend doing the same as I had noticed there was a little line when we showed up. Upon arrival, you'll check in at the front desk, then head through the glass doors behind it. The main exhibit is located here, and you'll descend into a series of rooms showcasing diverse works of art. As you explore, you'll pass through several exhibit rooms. Afterward, be sure to head upstairs for more exhibits and stunning views of the surrounding area. At the top, there's a small bar and restaurant, and you'll also find some outdoor sculptures that are worth a look. The museum is on the smaller side, so you can expect to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on how quickly you breeze through the exhibits. While I wouldn't make a special trip just to visit, it's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. The architecture is charming, the art is engaging, and it's a lovely little gem to explore.

I took my best friend to visit OCMA for the first time & we had a really great experience. Admission to the museum is free, but you do need to book tickets in advance through their website. Upon entering you need to check in at the front desk, then enter through the glass doors behind it to start your visit. The main exhibit space is located right there, you'll walk through a series of gallery rooms featuring a wide mix of contemporary artworks. After exploring the lower level, don't miss the upstairs section. There are more exhibits upstairs, plus some pretty views of the surrounding area. There's also a rooftop café/bar and a few outdoor sculptures that are worth checking out before you leave. The building & architecture is really cool, and the rotating exhibits are thoughtfully curated and interesting. Free parking available at the South Coast Plaza lots, we walked about 8 minutes over to the museum which wasn't bad.

We stopped by the OC Museum of Art after brunch on a rainy day, and it was surprisingly busy, probably because it's a great place to stay dry and still do something interesting. We only explored the first floor, but it still took us a good hour and a half to walk through. The gift shop is super cute, definitely worth a peek even if you're not into museums. There's also a little coffee stand outside, which was a nice touch. I heard there's a café inside the museum, but we didn't get to check it out, looked like the second floor was closed off for a private event or wedding. Overall, it's a cool spot to visit with friends or for a chill daytime date. Not the most exciting for little kids though, so maybe leave the littles at home for this

The Orange County Museum of Art is one of those rare finds that feels both culturally enriching and low pressure. First of all, it is free, which in Orange County feels like discovering a unicorn. I wandered in not entirely sure what to expect and ended up having a genuinely great time. The space itself is beautiful and modern, with wide open galleries and just the right amount of "I don't totally get this but I think I like it" energy. I spent about an hour exploring and felt like I got a full experience without the museum fatigue that sometimes kicks in halfway through an audio tour. The staff was welcoming, and there was plenty of room to take everything in without feeling rushed or crowded. It is a perfect stop if you're already in the area or just want a dose of art that will spark conversation, or at the very least, make you feel a little smarter for the rest of the day. I will definitely be back the next time I need an easy and inspiring outing.

Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) is a gem in OC located in Costa Mesa. This museum is a must visit for all art lovers! To get here, there are parking garages where you have to pay for parking or street parking around the area as well. The museum is free admission which makes it highly accessible for everyone to enjoy the art! Inside, the museum is a spacious two floors with some amazing architecture and design. In the first floor, they have a coffee bar, their gift shop, and exhibits. On the second floor, they have some more exhibits and a wine bar/restaurant. They do a great job here of showcasing and rotating next exhibits so definitely keep up with their social media to see what might be new. Currently, they have three Yoshitomo Nara sculptures on their outdoor rooftop patio which was what drew me in!

Free museum with beautiful art! This was my first visit to this museum and we had a fun afternoon enjoying the installations. We parked one block away in the parking garage. It was $15 per vehicle. Not bad considering that the museum admission is free for everyone. Check in was a breeze. The museum is small but there was a nice variety on display when we went.

Come for a free tour. So many different POVs when u see all the art. Most nostalgic. Upstairs has a restaurant and bar. You're able to have parties here BUT you need to have a membership here.

I'll be the first to admit that modern art simply isn't my thing. While I found much of the "art" here to be rather ridiculous I still found many pieces to be interesting and the techniques used to be uniquely creative. I honestly enjoyed the hour or so I spent perusing the exhibits, much more than I expected. The museum is free if you go online and get your entry ticket. I'm not sure how long this perk will last but it makes a visit worthwhile. Parking is available for a fee (no validation) at the surrounding structures next to the theater complex. Or, if you're like me and are cheap and in need of a good 3-block walk, you can park at no charge at nearby Southcoast Plaza. The staff here were very pleasant and they have a wonderful cafe & bar on the second floor. There wasn't much of a crowd here on my Saturday afternoon visit but there was a long line waiting to get into one interactive exhibit, a room filled with large balloons. Exhibits change so make sure you check the website to get an idea of what to expect.

I went to OCMA this past Sunday for a group project for one of my classes and we were pleasantly surprised! OCMA is a beautifully built museum located right next to Segerstrom. It was very easy getting tickets online (and they're free!). We walked in, scanned our codes, got a sticker, and walked around. While I'm not very fond of modern art, I still thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Our group also did the public tour and our tour volunteers were very educated and made it very interactive.

The museum has a clean, modern space and some interesting works, but the overall experience felt a bit underwhelming. It's fine for a short visit, though it didn't leave a strong impression.

Cute workshops and free exhibits here!!! They even have a summer program for kids too

Stopped by on a Saturday evening and hr before closing and it had fairly a good amount of ppl who were just arriving like us. The place isn't too big so and he or less is more than enough time to roam the museum. Place was clean, quiet, and pleasant. I love me an all white aesthetic with lots of open sunlight. Very cute for a clean photo shoot opportunity. It's free of entrance just have to sign up via QR upon arriving. Probably can do it before hand online. Just note the balloon room isn't just freely open. I oh have to wait in a line and I believe it's limited time per party. We opt out and went upstairs for a fun view. They have a bar upstairs I believe the 3rd floor. It was a short visit for us however we did roam all the exhibit rooms and both floors. While area outside of the museum is just as nice and seems like a chill spot with an open outdoor cafe/bar near the water fountains.

Free museum entrance!! Just go online and get the tickets. The museum is across from South Coast Plaza. My sister, mom and I went shopping first and then walked over on the pedestrian bridge. It's like a 5-10 minute walk. The exhibits were cool and interesting. We enjoyed it. There's a nice bar and hang out area on the 3rd floor. I'm glad things like this are available in Orange County. It's nice to appreciate some art. I think everyone should go check out this place.

Architectural excellence with smart contemporary open spacing. This is a beautiful space, bringing a vast array of modern-day artists. Some exhibits also display local artists and support Orange County art programs, bringing additional cultural attributes. Checking their website is advisable for special events, exhibits, and programs. Admission is free, but parking is not located just a couple of blocks away.

Came here for maum market! I was surprised how well the staff handled big popular events. They have a local y2k punk band inspired exhibit right now ( not the biggest fan), but it has a gift shop to get cute unique souvenirs. Its nice they have a cafe but pretty sure drinks weren't allowed in the exhibit area

. Somewhat interesting choice of exhibits. - However, for the most part I found most of the displays boring. I perceived that the exhibits prioritized superficiality and feelings. I prefer pragmatism. - In my honest opinion, some of the exhibits made me perceive that you can just take a random photo and add some whatever details (have the subject make a facial expression or hold an object while striking a pose, etc.) and call it museum-worthy art. I was hoping to see/hear art that amazes me a new way, inspires me want to become a better person, or teaches me about famous art history. - Paid parking. I heard it was $15? + Polite, helpful staff. + Glad museum admission is free though. + Located near Noguchi Garden, an aesthetic place popular for graduation photos. + When you're done, South Coast Plaza is just across Unity Bridge for some relaxed exploration, grabbing a meal or boba with loved ones, and some good ol' window shopping.

Maybe it's because I live in LA and I'm used to so many amazing art museums like LACMA, the hammer and the Getty but I was disappointed by this museum. We were surprised that there was only one exhibit open. It was an exhibit that showed different young people taking selfies to post on social media. It was nice and all but a bit repetitive and very short. The sculptures outside were also nice to look at but also short and repetitive. It looked like they were on construction with another exhibit, so maybe that one could be worth seeing. The architecture of the building was great and it was gorgeous to look at. The people working there were also friendly. The restaurant also looked cute. While the museum is free, parking unfortunately isn't.

You walk into the Orange County Museum of Art with a skip in your step and the quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, this gleaming architectural wonder will house something, anything, that punches you in the gut, shakes your soul, or at the very least, makes you think. What you get is a bait-and-switch. The building itself is stunning. Sleek, modern, like a coastal Bond villain's lair. But inside? It's like someone gave a bunch of trust-funded art students a glue gun, access to their parents' attic, and told them to "express themselves." Let's start with the highlights, because there are a few. A small collection of impressionist pieces manages to whisper something honest. They're quietly tucked away, like a nod to the idea that yes, real art once passed through here. Then the wheels come off. A whole room is given over to what looks like a series of Polaroids snapped by an 8-year-old in 1986. A family barbecue here, a poorly framed living room shot there. Blow them up to poster size and you've still got the same thing: a nostalgia-soaked nothingburger. A thousand square feet of wall space to tell us... what? That bad photography still looks bad when you scale it? And then there's the local band exhibit, credit where it's due, it's got heart. Not my scene, but I'll tip my hat to anything that comes from a place of passion and grit. But the "diary room", oh man. A disturbingly voyeuristic peek into the scribbles and snapshots of some teenage kid from the '80s. Photos of girls, ripped from context, paired with thoughts that belong in a dusty shoebox under a bed, not hanging under track lighting on museum-grade walls. If this is curation, then my garage is a gallery. And speaking of garages, most of the so called installations look like they were pulled straight from one. Rusted scraps, tangled wires, discarded tech. Call it "found object sculpture," sure--but when it feels like trash pretending to be profound, it loses all credibility. Look, art doesn't have to be pretty. It doesn't have to make sense. But it should do something. Stir something. This didn't. It was inert. And in a building this striking, that failure is even louder. OCMA? It's the museum equivalent of a high-end restaurant serving you a plate of wilted kale and cold fries on fine china, under perfect lighting, with a sommelier trying to convince you it pairs with regret.

Thanks to the fellow yelpers for the parking tip! I hate paying for parking if I don't need to. I parked at south coast plaza for free and walked over to the museum. I was here once before for their Pokémon exhibition and here I am again for a second time the past weekend. We got free tickets online and they scanned us in and gave us a ocma sticker. Love the exhibition especially the yellow balloon room. It's like the infinity room from the Broad but the Oc version (Same same but different). I really enjoyed this museum and would come back to check out their future exhibitions.

There are 3 ongoing exhibits ending on May 25. The mezzanine features pastel drawings of women taking selfies. The main gallery features art gathered from the earth. Tony Marsh is featured with 3 of his pieces.

So we got to check out OCMA while we were out in Costa Mesa. Parking lot we parked was $1.75 every 15 mins and its right next to the museum. The tickets to the museum are free, just book ahead on the website so you don't have to do it person. The museum is immaculate inside with nice art pieces and you don't feel crammed inside for sure. It was a beautiful day outside as well so you get to take in the sight on the 2nd floor patio when you step out. The cafe & bar area seemed nice as well!

What a gem. Loved it. Super interesting exhibits. Everything from "so cool", "wow really moving " to "seriously, someone paid money for that". Lots to discuss Recommend

I have to admit, it's not that I'm not a fan of modern art, it's just that I don't quite understand it? But hey, free admission? Count me in! My friend loved it & enjoyed herself so I was all for it. 2 levels of modern art. There was a section closed off for private event? Not sure. They do have free lockers you can use whilst you peruse the art exhibits. & they also have very clean bathrooms.

I love how often the exhibits change because I like to see all the different artwork. The exhibits do last for a good amount of time, so it's not constant to the point where you might miss something interesting. Recently went during a time when they were preparing new exhibits and they mentioned that they are offering free art classes. They provide paints and other tools needed to be creative for whatever the theme of the day is. It's just nice to have this option especially if you can't afford separate classes or even art supplies. And entry to the museum is also free! Grab a coffee or matcha while you're there. Enjoy the art. And take time to relax. It's such a beautiful area.

I had a lovely visit recently. Tickets must be reserved online ahead of time. It is free of charge. The parking was $15 or something. It also doesn't take Amex. I didn't know where to park so I just parked near the performing arts center parking garage. It's also a bit of a walk to get to the museum itself. Maybe someone can suggest me better place to park the next time. The curated collections were eclectic and interesting. One of the exhibition item was made of toothbrush heads and keyboards discarded into the landfill. The Yves Saint Laurent collection was interesting too. My favorites were the hallway displaying his summer postcard collections. Too bad it didn't have all the years displayed. The gift shop is filled with extremely pricy items. I bought a pack of stickers, and 3 art prints that's probably about 5x7 in size. The total? A whopping $132. It had no price tags on and I had no idea how eyewaterinw the cost would be. I decided to just think I am just supporting a local artist or something. Something to watch out for. The architecture of the building is more mesmerizing and interesting than the actual exhibit in my opinion. No matter which floors you go and what angle you look at through the staircase, it gives you a very unique perspective and angling. The top floor has some bar / cafe area and you can also go outside to sit too. Looking forward to seeing what else may be exhibited in the future.

FREE museum exhibition at OCMA! Perfect for date night or for a family night! Really cool & fun exhibitions for ALL ages. This place also has a bar on the upper level. To avoid paying for parking i'd recommend parking at south coast plaza & walking across the bridge to get to the museum. The walk is about 5 minutes & you avoid the parking fee. current exhibitions consist of: -ordinary extraordinary -deux femmes -martin creed: half the air in given space -lawrence weiner: FROM THE SEA TO THE HARBOR FROM THE HARBOR TO THE SEA FROM THE SEA TO ANOTHER SHORE -a moment in time

My boyfriend and I were in the area and decided to check this place out! Free admission - you just have to get your reservation online. It took about a full hour to walk around. It was a fairly small museum but contained a lot of amazing modern and contemporary art. We parked in the garage next door and it was no more than $5 since we didn't stay that long. I wanted to check out and support their art but a lot of their gift shop items were fairly expensive so I unfortunately wasn't able to purchase anything. It was truly a lovely museum and many families do bring their children here as well so it's kid friendly :)

It is amazing that this place is free. Who is architect or like architecture, should visit the museum. I think it changes Exhibit every year. There are bar and restaurant. Reserve your ticket on website. Tip: the same parking lot is used for the theater, you can use for the museum. $7 hour. The yellow balloons are the funniest thing to do in this museum. Go see it!

Adjacent to the Segerstrom for the Arts, OCMA's smaller in size, yet carries a modern, contemporary and eclectic art exhibition. One can't compare OCMA to the Getty, LACMA or Broad museum, which is far more larger and engaging. However, if you enjoy art & interpretation, this makes for a fun and interesting one and a half-hour experience. Best of all, admission is free.

Wow! This is an Orange County gem. I brought my mom to this wonderful art gallery she is 88. She didn't want to come. She loved it. We walked around for two hours and had the best time. There is so much variety. She has dementia and finds it hard to talk. On this "adventure" she had no trouble. What a place for a date. It's free. Parking is $7.00 per hour, so if you are younger and up to walking, park somewhere else. There are restaurants in the area and a bar. Win, win.,

This is such a cool place to visit when you have out of town guests! We really enjoyed it and it's donation based.

Visited on a weekend and wasn't packed whatsoever. The art exhibition was unique and all the different artworks were pretty cool. I feel like there wasn't as many artists participating at the museum currently since I noticed there were big gaps of the museum with empty walls. It's easy to get inside and parking for almost an hour is just $7 at the garage. It was room temperature and a little stuffy inside of the museum, was hoping there would've been an AC turned on. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Overall ok experience.

What a wonderful addition to the Costa Mesa performing arts complex. Between the concert halls, repertory theater, and concert halls, we now have a gorgeous new museum. We parked in front of Claim Jumper and took the bridge across Bristol limestone so many do here. Truth be told, I was much more impressed by the building itself as opposed to the contents of the museum. Since there are no permanent exhibits, you're at the mercy of the temporary exhibits. We saw an Yves St. Laurent display as well as an art exhibit for different types of moon art. There was also a physical art display about balloons that was pretty fun. It's free so no complaints whatsoever.

We went here after lunch in Costa Mesa since we saw this museum is free and thought why not! They have a small cafe inside but you can't bring the drinks inside so unfortunately my husband didn't know and had to leave his drink at the counter. The matcha latte he got was surprisingly good. I ordered the tickets before we arrived and we just scanned them and got stickers to enter. The art pieces weren't super amazing or memorable like anything in the Getty but hey it's free and a good way to kill some time. It is a little stuffy inside though. My favorite pieces were the three dioramas with a bunch of random things in the rooms. We spent almost half an hour playing I Spy.

Small museum that I can't believe is always free. Any exhibit is fun enough. I've actually been here twice; once before specifically for a Pokemon exhibit and more recently for a fashion designer who passed away a few years ago. We always run into fun other exhibits and it's a great looking environment to wander around in. Oh, one thing I was kinda icked about was a staff member was walking around us at one of the exhibits singing "teenage dirtbag" to themselves. Haha. Like. Alright relax there, you beautiful snowflake.

A free, wholesome activity for everyone. The modern art exhibits at OCMA often change and can easily be found on their website. My favorites so far are the Daniel Arsham's (probably most popular for the Pokémon art) and Jennifer Guidi. It's nice to be able to see and interpret the different color palettes, the materials, and each artist. Each piece can come with a challenge on how we interpret it (i.e., pop culture, modern times, waste, mental health, personal life). Parking can be found in various places which are listed on their website: Tower Plaza Parking Structure (next to the structure), Irvine Parking (across the street behind Mastro's), MET Parking, and South Coast Plaza (~15 minute walk). You'll likely have to pay unless you are willing to park for free and walk from South Coast Plaza. Just keep in mind if there are a few exhibits, it might be a lot of walking altogether.

Beautiful museum. I've had good memories here. Thankful that it's free. The descriptions are well penned, and I appreciate that we get locker space to store our belongings.

I am inspired by different forms of Art, especially the written word, and thus I want to begin this review with a quote: "Art is not just for the wealthy and elite, it is for everyone, and it speaks to all of us in a different way." - Unknown. In other words, art should be for all--- the ever-blessed, the ever-lacking, and the ever-living. Moreover, the power of art is in its flexibility to be interpreted by the sight and lived experience of varied human eyes and how all these interpretations are valid Louvre material. OCMA inspired me to say that! I went to OCMA this past weekend, and its principal exhibition meant to give magical and uncanny abilities to all that we see in our daily lives. I am here for that, as my mission-by-choice is to see the world as a canvas ready to be filled-- slightly, to the brim, and every measure in between. Truly the building blocks of art are all arounds us- hues yet to be classified, shapes yet to measured and compared to luggage sizes, and the unquantifiable aroma and zest of all things that are waiting to be clay figurines. It is also important to note that OCMA is free for its guest which means that any person can see and interpret art regardless of how much they hold in stock, gold doubloons, or autographed sneakers that one day will be worth more, when the player passes. Damn--- I just molded art with only the use of the alphabet! One of my favorite exhibitions was that of a broken vase in water, or what I interpreted to be a broken vase in water. When I went for a closer inspection, the art work had fishes inside. It was like a piece of Atlantis had been captured, and the fish were present to remind us that one day the broken vase belonged in an Atlantean flea market. I heard a woman say to her museum-partner, "I wonder how they move [the art] here?" He responded, "possibly in parts." Some people see a play and see an Angel soar, while others wonder what type of rope is used to help grace hold flight? Another woman wondered, how the fishes were fed? The art was encased. Some people see the calm of the sea when fishes swim, others worry for the fishes fate. Truly, art is shaped by the person who views it, and that is the value of what we see, when we wonder- art across the parking lot, in the tumble of a dryer, and in a gardener's toil and sigh. OCMA is not huge, it is, in my opinion just right--- like the baby bear's porridge. You can go here when you need some culture but you do not want to embrace the art of the day fully. If you want a break from what you see and wonder, OCMA also has a restaurant with a bar on their roof. The roof does not call me to eat or drink, it calls me to rest with a view. The roof has chairs that give me papasan vibes, which are a type of futon. If you never have sat on a futon then allow yourself to live and sit in the cushion of a futon it is like being swallowed by comfort, yet not being chewed. And remember the price of this experience is given freely, by OCMA. I have gone to OCMA a few times, and it has never let me down, it has only surprised me. I have seen Pokemon turned into sculptures, sunrises turned turquoise, and the staff wearing cream colored clothes. Some of them turned the regulatory color into fashion. That is fun to see too! As I was walking OCMA I saw letters on a wall: A Moment in Time. And that is the promise fulfilled by OCMA, a moment in time. What you see from your time there, largely depends on your mood, your view of sight and ultimately what you allow yourself to feel. I just recommend that you take these two questions with you: What is art to me and how can I see it today, so it helps me believe in the magic of my life? Is that two questions or three? The world may never know.

OCMA is a small modern and contemporary art museum located in Costa Mesa, CA. Admission is free but they accept donations. The museum has good permanent collection galleries and rotating exhibits in their two level museum floors. Furthermore, they have a full bar at the roof top terrace. Staff were cordial and professional. We spent 40 minutes to thoroughly go thru the entire museum including but not limited to taking photos, ogle at its architecture, read art info, etc. Moreover, the museum store is tiny and located at the main check-in lobby. As for parking, they do not have their own parking structure but plenty of paid parking lots around the area. Overall, we enjoyed this modest museum and their art exhibits and its architectural grandeur at no cost.

OCMA is a free museum worthy of your time. The exhibits always change every few months, always feeling like a brand new museum to explore every time. Even if you're not there to see the art at the museum, you can easily just grab a coffee and pastry at their coffee shop near the front entrance, or go to the top floor to their reataraunt and full bar, enjoying the top quarters of of the museum. This is a place for everyone to enjoy, and always come highly recommended.

Beautiful architectural building and prime location. I'm so glad I got the chance to stop by and check this place off my list. General admission is free and overall, the place is small with 2 floors of artwork, a gift shop and outdoor seating offered on the second floor with a bar. Some of the installations were cool but I was surprised to see that the majority of the artwork displayed was done in the 2000. There were only a few items sprinkled in from the 1900 -everything was recent and didn't feel exciting or innovative. This may be a draw for the younger generation but didn't appeal to me. There should be a warning for the second floor deux femme display - what a haunting and eerie display to walk thru. Quickly made it out and went to the outdoor terrace and enjoyed the beautiful view and sat with people on the stairs. Nice place to visit but wouldn't return unless there was an exhibit I wanted to see.

I'm just upset I had to step foot in Orange County to view a body of California Impressionist art work assembled by LA County students (which was lovely, by the way, everyone should go see the Gardena High School Art Collection).

Free to visit! You just need to sign in and let them know where you're visiting from (get your tickets online ahead of time). You get a sticker and then you're free to roam. This is my fourth time coming and I was really excited to see the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit. Sketches, collections and some history. There was also an interactive exhibit by Martin creed. Balloons were courtesy of Hauser & Wirth. New artwork every time! Such a fun experience!