Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is a principal contemporary art museum in Los Angeles, established in 1979 and focused on post-war and contemporary works. MOCA’s collection and exhibitions emphasise painting, sculpture, photography, installation and media art from the late 20th century to the present.

Key attractions include rotating temporary exhibitions of international and local artists and a permanent collection featuring major post-war and contemporary figures. The museum operates significant gallery spaces in downtown Los Angeles and a large-scale exhibition facility in the Little Tokyo area for installations and performance-based work.

MOCA was founded by collectors, artists and patrons to create a major institution for contemporary art in Los Angeles and has grown to hold several thousand works that are used in curated displays and research.

The museum’s primary sites are in downtown Los Angeles on Grand Avenue near the Walt Disney Concert Hall and in the Little Tokyo neighbourhood, providing easy access from central LA and surrounding districts.

• Founded: Founded in 1979 as a museum dedicated to post-war and contemporary art
• Collection size: Holds a permanent collection of several thousand modern and contemporary works including major post-war artists

What to See #

• Geffen Contemporary (Little Tokyo): The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in the Little Tokyo area, a large-scale exhibition space used for installations and performance work.
• Grand Avenue building: The Grand Avenue building in downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall, housing the permanent collection and rotating exhibitions.