Mission
The mission of the Museum of Contemporary Art is to provide a forum for the development and exchange of ideas about the art of our time. Through varied programs, MOCA supports the critical interpretation and display of the highest quality of contemporary art in service to our community as a public trust.
History
The Museum of Contemporary Art (moca) was founded in the fall of 1997, having evolved from an artist-run alternative art space. Founded by artists Julia Latane and James Graham and financier David Wright with aid from Toole Shed Studio founder Dave Lewis, moca was established to help fill a void in the cultural landscape of Tucson and to provide a much-needed venue to showcase the avant-garde work of local and international artists. moca is Tucson’s only public institution devoted exclusively to the art of our time and is committed to supporting the critical interpretation and display of the highest quality of contemporary art in service to our community as a public trust. To that end, moca has developed strategic alliances with other institutions in the downtown area, resulting in satellite gallery space at the Tucson Children’s Museum and The Screening Room in an effort to bring contemporary art to non-traditional audiences.
MOCA’s annual Membership Drive launches this month with new merch! Become a member or renew today! EXHIBITION OPENING Juan Obando and Yoshua Okón: DEMO October 11, 2024 - February 9, 2025 DEMO is a multimedia exhibition…
Read More »DEMO is a multimedia exhibition by artists Juan Obando and Yoshua Okón that explores “astroturfing”, a marketing practice that generates artificial public demonstrations intended to appear as grassroots political movements.…
Read More »TUCSON, AZ -- The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson announces the opening of the 2024 Night Bloom: Grants for Artists program. Organized by MOCA Tucson in partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Night Bloom:…
Read More »Tucson, AZ -- MOCA Tucson presents PORTALS, the first solo museum exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist Fay Ray featuring large-scale hanging sculptures and seven new site-specific commissions, opening Friday, March 8 in the museum’s Great…
Read More »THIS FRIDAY Artist Talk & Poetry Reading FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 | 5PM Join us for an evening in the Oasis, a space for programming and rest in the current exhibition Magma & Pearls. 5pm: Artist talk by exhibiting artist Keioui…
Read More »MOCA will be closed December 24, 2023 - January 3, 2024. We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year! SAVE THE DATE: GALA 2024 Join us on April 20, 2024 for our Gala! Pre-sale tickets available now through December 31! GET YOUR…
Read More »Keioui Keijaun Thomas: Stay Gold x Mapping Q Workshop NOVEMBER 7-9 | 4-6PM Join exhibiting artist and performer Keioui Keijaun Thomas for a free 3-day workshop exploring the history of protest signs in art and activism. Thomas will work with…
Read More »FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 | 8-11PM Don’t miss MOCA’s one-night-only genre-hopping dance party at the museum! Music by DJs: xsonazx, MIJITO, Violet, NGHTFVR, Fingerlust, and altrice, immersive video art by Inner Freq, gallery takeover by Last…
Read More »Members Make Moca Bloom! Join Or Renew Your Membership Today And Score New Limited-Edition Merch From Artist Yu Yu Shiratori! In addition to exclusive new gear, all MOCA Memberships include: - Free museum admission for one year - Invitation to…
Read More »We're kicking off our annual membership drive with a superbloom of fresh new programs, a wave of new grants seeded, and a bunch of vibrant new gear from artist Yu Yu Shiratori to outfit our members. Membership helps MOCA thrive, and when MOCA…
Read More »We’ve missed you! After a brief summer break, MOCA re-opens to the public this Thursday, August 31 Visit us for special events, exhibition celebrations, Free Third Thursdays, and more! MOCA Travels: Nogales SON/AZ Saturday,…
Read More »MOCA RE-OPENS TO THE PUBLIC THURSDAY, AUGUST 31 Last Chance to View Cecilia Vicuña: Sonoran Quipu ON VIEW THROUGH OCTOBER 1, 2023 | GREAT HALL Sonoran Quipu is a sprawling sculpture composed of found materials that invites viewers…
Read More »PERFORMANCES: WHILE HISSING THURSDAY, JUNE 22 | 6-8PM | FREE Join us for an evening of celebration and performances on the plaza in conjunction with Raven Chacon’s exhibition While hissing. MOCA will raise a new flag edition of Chacon’s…
Read More »MOCA is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023 Night Bloom: Grants for Artists program! This year’s applications were highly competitive and Night Bloom grant recipients were selected by panelists for their experimental…
Read More »Free Third Thursday Thursday, May 18 | 5-9pm This Week—Join us for a free evening at MOCA with galleries open late, live music by KXCI Community Radio DJs, food by OxacaRico, and free beer by Barrio Brewing Company. Don’t miss this…
Read More »2023 GALA AUCTION BIDDING OPEN NOW! Available to the public and all event attendees Alongside this year's Gala & Local Genius Awards, MOCA is excited to present its largest online auction ever with lots open for bidding to the public. …
Read More »MOCA TUCSON PRESENTS NEW EXHIBITIONS OPENING MARCH 24 Raven Chacon: While hissing & Na Mira: Subrosa Raven Chacon: While hissing March 24 - October 22, 2023 MOCA Tucson presents While hissing, an exhibition by artist, performer, and…
Read More »MOCA LOCAL GENIUS TALK: KARLETTA CHIEF & CELESTINO FERNÁNDEZ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 | 6-7:30PM Join us for a series of lectures by 2023 Local Genius Awardees as they discuss their creative and professional achievements. Presentations will…
Read More »UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS RAVEN CHACON: WHILE HISSING MARCH 24 - OCTOBER 22, 2023 | EAST GALLERIES While hissing is an exhibition by artist, performer, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Raven Chacon that celebrates sound as a medium for…
Read More »MOCA Tucson Announces 2023 Night Bloom: Grants for Artists Program The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson announces the opening of the 2023 Night Bloom: Grants for Artists program. Organized by MOCA Tucson in partnership with the Andy…
Read More »Cecilia Vicuña: Sonoran Quipu Celebrate a new exhibition from internationally celebrated artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña. Weaving together natural and human debris from the region, the artist invites viewers to consider our…
Read More »Save the date for a special evening in support of MOCA and in honor of our soon-to-be-announced 2023 Local Genius Awardees: visionary Tucsonans whose activities have a global impact and whose talents have been internationally recognized. Pre-sale…
Read More »Cecilia Vicuña: Sonoran Quipu Opening Weekend: January 27 & 28, 2023 This January MOCA Tucson debuts Sonoran Quipu, a new exhibition from internationally celebrated artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña. Sonoran Quipu is an…
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