Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego invites all people to experience our world, our region, and ourselves through the prism of contemporary art.
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Weโ€™re so excited to see you at the ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด Preview Party this Friday, September 18! Here's the program: ๐ŸŽถ 6PM...
09/16/2026

Weโ€™re so excited to see you at the ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด Preview Party this Friday, September 18! Here's the program:

๐ŸŽถ 6PM: Doors open + DJ Reyna's set begins
๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿฝ 6:30PM: Sunset Salsa workshop led by Q***r latin Dance SD
๐ŸŽถ 7PM: DJ Rosas' set begins
๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ 7:30PM: Hear from the exhibition's curator, Amy Crum, the Associate Curator at MCASD
๐Ÿชฉ 8:30PM: Exhibition ball presented by pioneer Strawberry Mehron, the San Diego Kiki scene, and Saturnโ€™s Wish. Inspired by ballroom culture, there will be 6 categories with prizes. Interested in walking? DM us for more info by Thursday
๐ŸŒญTijuana hot dogs, Pride-themed Conchas, and drinks available for purchase throughout the evening

Get your tickets today, ๐Ÿ”— link: https://mcasd.org/events/preview-party-visiones-nocturnas

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Friday, September 18, 6 โ€“ 10PM
๏ธ FREE for MCASD Members / $40 for Non-Members

[Courtesy of the artist]

09/14/2026

The preps have just finished installing our newest exhibition, ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต, which opens this weekend ๐Ÿชฉ

Experience it for yourself:
โœจ Friday, September 18: Preview Party featuring DJ Reyna, DJ Rosas, a Sunset Salsa workshop led by Q***r Latin Dance SD, and Exhibition Ball inspired by ballroom culture, and more!
โœจ Saturday, September 19: Free Public Opening with free admission to our galleries all day, plus a Focused Narratives Tour of the exhibition at 11:30AM

See you soon! Learn more, ๐Ÿ”— link: https://mcasd.org/exhibitions/visiones-nocturnas

[๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต.]

Our next exhibition, ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต, opens next week on Saturday, September 19!...
09/12/2026

Our next exhibition, ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต, opens next week on Saturday, September 19!

๐Ÿชฉ Expanding on the idea of โ€˜night visionโ€™โ€”the interplay between darkness and visibilityโ€”the first section of the exhibition considers how artists archive, preserve, and remember lost q***r spaces as many of them continue to disappear. The second section explores the nightclub as form, probing its physical trappingsโ€”disco balls, lights, curtains and dance floorsโ€”as emblems of q***r kinship. Centering music and dance, these works also highlight how q***r diasporic communities have used movement to forge spaces of cultural belonging.

โœจ Join us at the Preview Party on September 18 and the Free Public Opening on September 19! Plan your visit today.

[Andres Payan Estrada, ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด, 2024-2026. ยฉ Andres Payan Estrada, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.
Laura Aguilar, ๐˜—๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ ๐˜—๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜บ #15, 1992/Reprinted 2026. ยฉ Laura Aguilar, 1992. Courtesy of The Laura Aguilar Trust of 2016.
Juan Arango Palacios, ๐˜๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ž๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ž๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ, 2025. ยฉ Juan Arango Palacios, 2025. Courtesy of the artist.
Martine Gutierrez, ๐˜Š๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฃ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ (Still), 2012. ยฉ Martine Gutierrez; Courtesy of the artist and RYAN LEE Gallery, New York.
Teresa Margolles, ๐˜•๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜บ, ๐˜—๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ ๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ฃ '๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ'๐˜ด' (๐˜•๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜บ, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ฃ '๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ'๐˜ด'), 2016. ยฉ Teresa Margolles. Courtesy the artist and NORR COHAN, New York. ]

We can't wait for the Exhibition Ball taking place at the ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต Previe...
09/10/2026

We can't wait for the Exhibition Ball taking place at the ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต Preview Party! This will be presented by pioneer Strawberry Mehron, the San Diego Kiki Scene, and Saturn's Wish.

Inspired by ballroom culture, there are 6 categories:
๐Ÿชฉ Performance: Avant Garde Vogue ($300 prize)
๐Ÿชฉ Best Dressed: Glitz & Glam ($250 prize)
๐Ÿชฉ Best Dressed: Street Wear ($250 prize)
๐Ÿชฉ Runway: Storm the Institution ($200 prize)
๐Ÿชฉ S*x Appeal: ($200 prize)

Would you like to walk? Please email [email protected] or [email protected] by 4PM on Thursday 9/17.

โœจ There will also be a DJ sets by DJ Reyna and DJ Rosas, a Sunset Salsa workshop led by Q***r Latin Dance SD, ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด on view, and Tijuana hot dogs, Pride-themed Conchas, and drinks available for purchase throughout the evening!

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Friday, September 18, 6 โ€“ 10PM
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ FREE for MCASD Members / $40 for Non-Members

All ages welcome. Capacity is limited. Get your tickets today, ๐Ÿ”— link: https://mcasd.org/events/preview-party-visiones-nocturnas

[๐Ÿ“ธ: Courtesy of Strawberry Corncakes]

09/09/2026

The Murals of La Jolla program continues to grow its reach, having established two new sites in La Jollaโ€™s Village โ€” one on the side of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and the other facing an alley on Silverado Street. And inโ€ฆ

09/08/2026

Fox Maxy (Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians and Payomkawichum) works across cinema, moving image, and visual art, creating experimental films that draw from an archive of footage the local artist-filmmaker has captured and compiled since she was a teenager.

Akin to a natural history diorama, the sculptural frame of โœงโ’ทโ˜ โ˜ปโ“โ™กโ“„โœ‡โ˜Ÿโ“„โ™žโ˜ฝโ’นโœฐ_โ“œโ“โ“ฃโ“”โ“กโ“˜โ“โ“›โ“ขโœฆ [๐˜‰๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด] (2022/2025) simulates the beaches below the Museum, whose sand and rocks are the "blood materials" referenced in the title. Maxy describes ๐˜‰๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด as a loving ode to San Diego, yet she refers to the work and all her films as "horror movies.โ€ Even as ๐˜‰๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด revels in the beauty of the mountains, valleys, ocean, and desert, its underlying premise is the displacement and genocide of the people who once moved freely and migrated seasonally through these ecological zones.

๐ŸŽฅ See ๐˜‰๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด on view at MCASD as part of ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜‹๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜—๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด: ๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด. Plan your visit today: https://mcasd.org/visit/mcasd

[Fox Maxy, โœงโ’ทโ˜ โ˜ปโ“โ™กโ“„โœ‡โ˜Ÿโ“„โ™žโ˜ฝโ’นโœฐ_โ“œโ“โ“ฃโ“”โ“กโ“˜โ“โ“›โ“ขโœฆ [๐˜‰๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด] (detail), 2022/2025.

Next week is Free Second Sunday! Join us: ๐ŸŽจ Enjoy free admission all day until 5PM ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿฝ From 11AM โ€“ 2PM, engage in DIY ar...
09/06/2026

Next week is Free Second Sunday! Join us:

๐ŸŽจ Enjoy free admission all day until 5PM
๐Ÿง’๐Ÿฝ From 11AM โ€“ 2PM, engage in DIY artmaking and fun for the whole family at Play Day. Together, weโ€™ll celebrate back-to-school and make colorful paintings using protractors and rulers.

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Free Second Sunday, September 13
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Free, no RSVP needed

Learn more, ๐Ÿ”— link: https://mcasd.org/events/fss-9-13

[๐Ÿ“ธ: Daniel Lang]

๐Ÿ“ธ Tania Franco Kleinโ€™s near-painterly photographs use dramatic lighting to create a sultry contrast between light and sh...
09/04/2026

๐Ÿ“ธ Tania Franco Kleinโ€™s near-painterly photographs use dramatic lighting to create a sultry contrast between light and shadow. Capturing the tension between these extremes, Franco Kleinโ€™s images oscillate between playfulness and disenchantment. Drawn from her ๐˜™๐˜ˆ๐˜Ž๐˜Œโ„ข series, these works take up the subject of the suburban housewife to explore themes of consumption, leisure, media overstimulation, and alienation.

In ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ต, ๐˜š๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ, the artist revisits the sexual charge of ๐˜š๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ, a 1979 painting by Eric Fischl that examined the hidden behaviors of teenage boys, here reimagined through a pointed gender reversal. The artistโ€™s self-portraits recall the staged photographs of Cindy Sherman, particularly in their exploration of American female domesticity and its discontents.

โญ See Tania Franco Kleinโ€™s worksโ€“and more from ๐˜—๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต 2026โ€“on view at MCASD now through November 8!

[Tania Franco Klein, ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ต, ๐˜š๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ (๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜Œ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ญ); ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜š๐˜ค๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ ๐˜›๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ (๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง-๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต); ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต, ๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ, ๐˜š๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ (๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง-๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต) (2025).]

The staff at MCASD were heartbroken to hear of the unexpected passing of Carrington Kelso, a beloved artist, creative, e...
09/01/2026

The staff at MCASD were heartbroken to hear of the unexpected passing of Carrington Kelso, a beloved artist, creative, entrepreneur, former MCASD teammate, and unforgettable presence in the San Diego arts community.

His connection to the Museum and to the people here extended far beyond his time as a staff member. He remained a deeply valued part of our creative community, continuing to show up, build relationships, support artists, and bring his energy, kindness, and imagination into the spacesโ€”and to the peopleโ€”he cared about.

Carrington was a gifted singer, songwriter, and performer, as well as the creative force behind his fragrance company, Clara Rose. The mark he left on MCASD, San Diegoโ€™s creative community, and on all of us who were fortunate enough to know him will never be forgotten.

Please consider donating to the GoFundMe created to help ease the burden of such a tremendous loss for Carringtonโ€™s family and loved ones. If you are unable to donate, please consider resharing the fundraiser link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-carrington-kelso?attribution_id=sl:4c6a46bc-d953-4948-b9df-c6be626926ae&ts=1788134041&utm_campaign=natman_today_topbar_ios&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&video_sharing=enabled

Carrington was deeply loved and he will be deeply missed.

[๐Ÿ“ท: Stacy Keck]

๐Ÿ“ฃ Tickets for the ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต Preview Party are now LIVE ๐Ÿ“ฃ Celebrate the ope...
09/01/2026

๐Ÿ“ฃ Tickets for the ๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ด: ๐˜˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜•๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต Preview Party are now LIVE ๐Ÿ“ฃ

Celebrate the opening with us! Enjoy a preview of the exhibition before it opens to the public, along with...

๐ŸŽถ DJ sets by DJ Reyna and DJ Rosas
๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿฝ A Sunset Salsa workshop led by Q***r Latin Dance San Diego
๐Ÿชฉ An exhibition ball inspired by ballroom culture
๐ŸŒญTijuana hot dogs, Pride-themed Conchas, and drinks available for purchase throughout the evening

All ages welcome. Capacity is limited. Get your tickets today, ๐Ÿ”— link: https://mcasd.org/events/preview-party-visiones-nocturnas

[Amina Cruz, ๐˜‹๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜น๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฐ, 2020. ยฉ Amina Cruz, 2020. Courtesy of the artist.]

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