ESMoA, Experimental art museum in El Segundo, United States
ESMoA is a contemporary art museum in El Segundo featuring roughly 25 by 140 feet (7.6 by 42.7 meters) of gallery space with adjustable skylights for natural lighting. The rooms are configured for rotating exhibitions of varied artistic media.
Artlab21 Foundation held two fine art exhibitions at El Segundo's old fire station in 2011, then planned a permanent art laboratory. ESMoA opened in January 2013 on a previously vacant lot in the downtown restaurant district. Artnet News listed it among America's Top 10 Private Contemporary Art Museums in October 2014. By 2024 the museum was based in nearby Lawndale.
ESMoA calls its exhibitions "Experiences" rather than shows, a term meant to signal that visitors experience art instead of reading wall labels. Themes in the first ten Experiences ranged from nudity (TRUTH) and fame (FAME) to street art (SCRATCH) and the Los Angeles art scene (TOUCH). The museum also stages projects outside its walls, among them an oceanfront installation on El Segundo Beach and murals on the former El Segundo Post Office and former El Segundo Fire Station.
Entry is free for all visitors, making the space accessible to everyone. The museum maintains collaborative relationships with major institutions like the Getty Research Institute and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Each exhibition incorporates interactive elements such as iPad stations and customized scavenger hunts designed by educators. These hands-on approaches encourage visitors to engage beyond simply viewing artwork.
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