The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) opened in Virginia Beach with a sold-out gala, featuring an inaugural exhibition by New York-based abstract artist Nina Chanel Abney titled "The Pursuit of Happiness." The new museum, located on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University off I-64, offers a more accessible location than its previous oceanfront site, with 20 percent more gallery space and a 28-foot painting that allows visitors to feel immersed in the art.
The opening matters because MOCA aims to bring contemporary art to a broader public, engaging students and local residents in a region that previously had limited access to such cultural institutions. The museum's free admission for local residents and its expanded, large-scale galleries signal a commitment to accessibility and community engagement, potentially serving as a model for regional contemporary art museums.