Previous Exhibitions

Michael Kagan: I Was there when it happened

September 21, 2019 - February 16, 2020

Opening Reception: Friday, September 20, 6:30 pm. The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) will present the first solo museum exhibition by artist Michael Kagan. Bringing together key paintings from the past decade along with new works, the exhibition Michael Kagan: I Was There When It Happened traces the artist’s lifelong interest in technology, space and innovation. Michael Kagan grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Museum looks forward to celebrating a native son. Now living and working in Brooklyn, Kagan‘s artwork speaks to the intersection of contrasts. He paints in thick forceful brushstrokes that seem chaotic but are calculated to form cohesive, realistic images when vi…

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Michael Kagan, I Was There When It Happened, 2018. Oil on linen. 96 x 72 inches. Collection of Jacob Arabov. © Michael Kagan

Double-Edged: Pop-up Exhibition at BOJUart Gallery

March 1 - 30, 2019

Opening Reception: Friday, March 1, 6pm Life is full of challenges. They are what make us grow and evolve. Adventurous people seek them out even when it makes them uncomfortable. This winter, MOCA laid down a challenge to 12 artists from our region. MOCA invited them to make an artwork under specific rules. But, none of the artists knew what the rules would be. The only hint given was that they need to collaborate in some way with another artist in a limited amount of time. All 12 artists took up the challenge. Each received a box full of seemingly random material, a set of rules and a partner/collaborator. The result is Double Edged. The six pairs of artists found six different approaches t…

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Double-Edged: Pop-up Exhibition at BOJUart Gallery

Satellite Gallery: Modern Makers

February 15 - June 8, 2019

Opening Celebration, Friday, February 15 5-7pm. 600 22nd Street, Pavilion II. Modern Makers celebrates Maria Galuszka, Mary Menzer and Spencer Tinkham, each makes traditional objects with a contemporary eye. Maria Galuszka creates ceramics, Mary Menzer sews quilts, and Spencer Tinkham carves in wood. For all three, the formal qualities of their work outpace the traditional functionality. Each artist recalls masters of the modernist art movement: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri Rousseau, Anni Albers, Constantin Brâncuși, Jean Arp and Frank LLoyd Wright, while moving beyond the intellectual inquiry of that modern movement. They embrace materials that are tactile, alluring and part of our e…

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Mary Menzer, Quilt It Wright, 2015, Textile. Courtesy of the artist

Annie Layne: Brazen

March 23 - August 18, 2019

Annie Layne embroiders for the world in which she lives. She uses humor to approach subjects that provoke thought and discussion. At first glance, the embroidered works seem familiar and nostalgic. The more time you spend with them, the deeper your appreciation will go. Because, the women in Annie Layne's embroidery embrace life. They are bright, colorful, and filled with joy. These women are not the ideal. They are imperfect with their moles, extra eyes, and weird facial hair, but they are fancy. A sea hag peeps out from colorful coral with ivory bubbles dancing from her lips. A bearded woman is in profile, her demeanor haughty as tropical butterflies adorn her hair. Idealized beauty does n…

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Annie Layne, Sea Hag, 2018. Courtesy of the artist

Satellite gallery: waterways

October 12, 2018 - February 2, 2019

Opening Celebration, Friday, October 19, 5-7pm. 600 22nd Street, Pavilion II. Due to area power outages, the opening has been moved from Oct 12 to Oct 19. The allure of water has always been a powerful draw for artists. Water can be meditative and reflective, and yet equally powerful and destructive. As coastal dwellers our relationship with the surrounding waters is deep and multifaceted. We need access to fresh, clean water in our daily lives, we immerse ourselves in it for relaxation and entertainment, and our economy depends on it. Protecting ourselves, our communities and the water itself is becoming an increasingly important issue for our region. Waterways celebrates the work of six a…

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