Visitors engage with the art at the 'Piece of Me' exhibition, highlighting youth perspectives on identity.
The Orange County Museum of Art is hosting the ‘Piece of Me’ exhibition, part of the California Biennial, featuring works curated by local high school students. This exhibit explores themes of identity through a variety of mediums, highlighting insights from 12 young artists. Fifteen high school juniors and seniors participated as Young Curators, shaping the presentation and engaging with the museum’s collection. The exhibition underscores the importance of youth involvement in the arts and will be on display until January 2026.
COSTA MESA – The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) is currently hosting an exhibition titled “Piece of Me,” which is part of the 2025 California Biennial, themed “Desperate, Scared, But Social.” This innovative exhibit explores the complexities surrounding identity and the youthful personas that teenagers navigate, bringing insights from 12 young artists and art collectives.
Fifteen high school juniors and seniors have been chosen as the inaugural group of Orange County Young Curators, selected from approximately 150 applicants. This program aims to give teenagers a hands-on experience in art curation that is intended to be a sustainable initiative beyond the biennial exhibition. The Young Curators engaged with the museum’s collection and helped shape the presentation of the exhibit.
“Piece of Me” features nine selected works from OCMA’s extensive collection of 4,600 pieces, showcasing a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and video. A statement on the title wall conveys the group’s goal to bridge the gap between private and public identity, including themes of authenticity and inauthenticity.
Inspired by a historical project at Gardena High that focused on the acquisition of early 20th-century California art, the involvement of teens in curation was designed to create a platform for young voices in the art world. The Young Curators collaborated closely to produce a unified presentation, which encompassed both writing and editing the exhibition information and selecting the color schemes for the art display walls.
The exhibition reflects not only the themes of the biennial but also the personal experiences and insights gained by the Young Curators. Each curator aimed to share their unique perspectives on the struggles that come with adolescence, adding a personal touch to the artworks. The program has successfully engaged students from 11 Orange County high schools who have been meeting bi-weekly since October under the guidance of museum educators.
Despite varying levels of prior exposure to art museums, participants noted a significant increase in their understanding and appreciation of art throughout the curation process. The exhibition also includes notable highlights, such as a previously unexhibited 2004 painting of Britney Spears and a detailed cornucopia painting by artists Abetz & Drescher from 2006.
The opening of “Piece of Me” coincided with a daylong public block party, featuring live performances from local bands, including Emily’s Sassy Lime and The Linda Lindas. This event attracted substantial attendance, highlighting the community’s support for the contribution of young people towards local art initiatives.
The Young Curators program provides benefits such as monthly stipends for the student curators and opportunities to curate snacks for their bi-weekly meetings. These initiatives are designed to enhance both the experience and engagement of students in the arts.
The “Piece of Me” exhibit will be on display until January 4, 2026, at the Orange County Museum of Art, which offers free admission. The museum has expressed its commitment to involving more youth in future exhibitions as part of its ongoing dedication to promoting the arts and fostering creativity among young people in the community.
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