Opened by 13 visionary women in 1962, the museum's collection comprises nearly 2,500 objects of modern and contemporary art, with a concentration on the art of California from the early 20th century to current works by local, national, and international artists.
In 1984, the museum launched the California Biennial, which In 2013 evolved into the California-Pacific Triennial, an on-going exhibition devoted to contemporary art from around the Pacific Rim.
Collections and exhibitions are curated with an eye to linking the historical with the contemporary, and to bridge local and global art and culture.
This is a temporary location, awaiting the completion of a purpose-built museum, slated to open in 2021.