News Summary
The Orange County Museum of Art has launched the ‘Piece of Me’ exhibition, showcasing the artistic insights of Gen Z teenagers. Curated by selected high school students, the exhibit is part of the California Biennial and reflects evolving youth culture and identity. Featuring diverse mediums, it aims to highlight the complexities of youth identities, encouraging community engagement with art and culture.
Costa Mesa, California –
The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) has officially launched an innovative exhibition titled “Piece of Me”, which showcases the artistic insights and perspectives of today’s Gen Z teenagers. This groundbreaking exhibit is a key component of the larger 2025 California Biennial: Desperate, Scared, But Social, highlighting how youth culture and identity are evolving in a contemporary context.
Opening on June 21, the exhibit features the work of twelve artists and art collectives, selected in part by a team of dedicated high school students. In a unique initiative, OCMA has incorporated teenager curation through its inaugural group of “Orange County Young Curators”. Out of 150 applicants, fifteen students from eleven different high schools in Orange County were chosen to partake in this enriching experience.
Student Participation and Artwork Selection
Under the mentorship of OCMA staff members Nate Bench and Delaina Engberg, the participating youths delved into the world of art curation. Throughout the process, they collaborated to select nine works from OCMA’s extensive collection of approximately 4,600 pieces. The themes explored include identity, nostalgia, and the influence of technology on the youth of today.
This student-curated exhibit prominently features diverse mediums, such as painting, sculpture, photography, video, and even a nostalgic Atari game cartridge. Each piece was chosen to reflect the complexities of youth identities, and the exhibition includes a title wall that outlines these explorations. Despite their busy schedules, the young curators actively engaged in the curation process, demonstrating a strong commitment to their roles. They received a monthly stipend and playfully embraced the title of “snack curators” during their meetings.
Notable Artworks and Performances
Among the significant works on display are Alison Van Pelt’s never-before-exhibited painting of Britney Spears from 2004, alongside an imposing piece by German artists Abetz & Drescher. In addition to the visual arts, the exhibition also featured a live performance by the band Emily’s Sassy Lime, whose album title inspired the name of the Biennial.
The California Biennial exhibition is scheduled to run through January 4, 2026, at the OCMA, located at 3333 Avenue of the Arts in Costa Mesa. The museum opens from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and offers free public admission, inviting all members of the community to engage with the art and the stories behind it.
Community Impact
The involvement of local high school students in the curation process has sparked increased interest among their families, friends, and peers, encouraging more visitors to explore the exhibit. The students reported a range of insights gained from their experience, including a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of art curation and the role of museums in society.
Historical Context
This initiative draws parallels to a historical student-driven art collection project at Gardena High, which ran from 1919 to 1956, thereby linking contemporary practices in art curation to notable precedents in educational and cultural history.
The “Piece of Me” exhibit at OCMA not only showcases the talent of emerging artists but also empowers teenagers, offering them a platform to express their unique perspectives on identity and culture, which resonate deeply in today’s society.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times
- Orange County Register
- Hyperallergic
- Wikipedia: California Biennial
- Google Search: art curation and youth culture
