Exhibitions

The Palm Court Arts Complex is home to the Great Park Gallery and the Great Park Artist Studios. The Palm Court’s re-purposed military structures now form a cultural campus supporting the development of a fresh approach to establishing an interdisciplinary, public arts program.

Learn more about exhibitions at the Irvine Fine Arts Center here.
Learn more about exhibitions at City Hall here

As part of the City of Irvine’s Fine Arts Program, the Great Park Gallery and Artist Studios present a varied exhibition program from year to year, with shows scheduled 12 to 24 months in advance. For more information, see the Exhibition Proposal Requirement form here.  

Great Park Gallery

Thursdays & Fridays: Noon–4 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free Admission
 


CURRENT EXHIBITION

Natural Language: Contemporary Book Art  

Exhibition: February 11–May 4, 2024
Exhibition Reception: Sunday, February 11, 2024 1–3 p.m.

The book has been a unique and accessible medium for contemporary artists to visualize forms in nature in poetic and thought-provoking ways. Natural Language: Contemporary Book Art surveys contemporary artists' books inspired by themes spanning through air, forest, and sea exploring nature, language, history, environment, and ecology. Curated in collaboration with UCI Special Collections and artists from around the world, this exhibition brings together cross-cultural perspectives through artistic excellence. 

This exhibition features artworks by Ryoko Adachi, Barbara Bosworth, Julie Chen, Dirk Hagner, Yunsoo Kim, Kumi Korf, Waeli Wang, Xianlu Yi, Chang Yuchen, and Susie Zhu.

 

Jazz in the Palm Court  

Saturday, February 17, 1–3 p.m.
Saturday, March 9, 1–3 p.m.
Saturday, April 20, 1–3 p.m.

The City of Irvine invites the community to Jazz in the Palm Court, a three-part series that features gifted, local musicians weaving a compelling sonic narrative echoing the diverse voices and textures explored in Natural Language: Contemporary Book Art, on view at the Great Park Gallery beginning February 11. Attendees will enjoy a live performance of the complex blues and swing notes that define the evocative sound of jazz.

Enjoy a kaleidoscope of sound and artistry under the palm trees. Bring folding chairs and blankets for seating around the Gallery and Palm Court; no advance registration is needed.

UPCOMING EXHIBITION

Orange County Archives Bazaar: Making History: Art and Artists’ Legacies  

Exhibition: Saturday, March 9, 2024, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 

Presented by OC Archives in Action, the Orange County Archives Bazaar: Making History: Art and Artists’ Legacies brings together libraries, special collections, and cultural institutions. Showcasing materials from these collections, this event aims to spark new conversations about the land, its history, preservation, and people. In addition to institutional collection displays, the Bazaar will feature discussions, presentations, and a family-friendly zine workshop hosted by Ziba Perez, a Young Adult Services Librarian at the Palisades Branch Library for the LAPL and radio show host with KLBP, Long Beach Public Radio.

This event runs in support of the Great Park Gallery’s exhibition Natural Language: Contemporary Book Art and is held in collaboration with the Anaheim Public Library, CSUF Pollak Library, Heritage Museum of Orange County, and UCI Libraries. No advance registration is needed for this free event.

Great Park Artist Studios

Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free admission
 
*Great Park’s Artist Studios is subject to closures due to private event rentals and/or larger city-wide events. For building closure status, please call 949-724-6599.
 

 

 

Hangar 244

Thursdays & Fridays: Noon–4 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free Admission

*Great Park’s Hangar 244 is subject to closures due to private event rentals and/or larger city-wide events. For building closure status, please call 949-724-6599.
 


Ongoing Exhibitions

Closing Marine Corps Air Station El Toro

In 1993, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro was designated for closing by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and all of its activities were to be transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The station officially closed on July 2, 1999.

Since 2002, the Legacy Project has documented the transformation of the former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro into the Orange County Great Park. They have created more than 200,000 images and famously turned a giant jet hangar into the world’s largest camera and used it to take the world’s largest picture.

These photos capture the Flying Bull insignia around the military base and its buildings.

A Guide to Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro

A Guide to Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro is a documentary about the history of the region.

This 9-minute archive will take you on a retrospective journey from the early days of the Irvine family’s prodigious ranching and agricultural projects, to the coming of World War II and the subsequent arrival of Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro.

The film screens every 20 minutes in the History Room hallway of Hangar 244.