OCMA (Orange County Museum of Art)

Drawing inspiration from the color theories of Brazilian artist Hélio Oiticica (b. 1937; d. 1980), Color is the First Revelation of the World is a poetic meditation on how color and form intersect, emphasizing the transformative nature of art. Grounded in a collection of monochromatic works—from abstraction to portraiture—in hues of blue, the exhibition spans the various histories of the twentieth century to pose timely, nuanced questions about the world around us.

Divided into four galleries, the first gallery in the exhibition reveals the underlying lines and structures of color, emphasizing how blue is a fundamental element that goes beyond its function as a mere accessory to objects. These blue geometries, known for transcending dimensions, open a portal for audiences to step into new worlds. In the second gallery, a large-scale sculptural installation by American artist Chris Burden (b. 1946; d. 2015) emphasizes the power of color to shape our perception of reality, transforming viewers from spectators into active participants. The third and fourth galleries brings together a constellation of works that explore the shift away from pure form to reveal how color lives in loaded personal and historical narratives all on its own, separate from us, yet dominates in the environments in which we coexist. Enabling viewers to follow their own paths and experience numerous connections within and across the galleries, the exhibition resists fixed interpretations, instead enlisting the color blue as a poignant reminder to live fully in the world.

Artists on view:

Igshaan Adams, Diedrick Brackens, Katherine Bradford, Chris Burden, Noah Davis, Sam Francis, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Mary Heilmann, Yves Klein, Tau Lewis, Laura Lima, Liza Lou, Agnes Martin, Hélio Oiticica, Judith Scott, Moffat Takadiwa, Mungo Thomson, Cy Twombly, Marie Watt, Mary Weatherford, Matthew Wong

Color is the First Revelation of the World is organized by Heidi Zuckerman, CEO and Director, with Courtenay Finn, Chief Curator, Ziying Duan, Assistant Curator, Amanda Seadler, Collections and Exhibitions Director, Albert Lopez, Installation Director, Philipp Hubbe, Head Preparator, and with support from the entire OCMA staff.

The exhibition would not have been possible without the support of Adrien Edwards, Gabriel Remon, Luis Santiago, Paul Smith and artist assistants Cristina Alvarado, Jenise Alvarenga, Arios Munoz, Daniella Perez, Lauren Porras, Vanessa Reyes, Nick Songalia, and Mo Zhou.

The exhibition is made possible by Lead Sponsor Balmain.

Generous support is provided by Dr. James B. and Dr. Rosalyn L. Pick.