California Landscape into Abstraction examines one of the strengths of OCMA’s collection, its connection to its context of Southern California. In Orange County a full century ago, artists were among the first to develop a visual language for the visceral appeal of ocean vistas, coastal mountains, and idyllic year-round climate. More than half a century later, artists were again at the forefront—this time drawing attention to the ecological impact of development on the local landscape.
 
By linking these tendencies, the exhibition enables viewers to explore recurring subject matter and perspectives over more than a century of transformation. From the early settlers’ first impressions of the landscape to environmental degradation today, the show illustrate the ways that artists both past and present are often drawn to the same essential ideas.