MOCA Welcomes 158 New Works to Its Collection in 2025
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has acquired Kara Walker’s monumental sculpture “Unmanned Drone” (2023), now featured in the “MONUMENTS” exhibition at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and The Brick. This significant addition marks a pivotal moment for the museum as it expands its collection with the inclusion of 158 works by 106 artists throughout 2025.
Interim Maurice Marciano Director Ann Goldstein expressed her excitement about the acquisition, noting, “With the acquisition of ‘Unmanned Drone,’ we are honored to steward this epic and historic sculpture by Kara Walker. A searing and crucial statement about the legacy of post-Civil War United States, it is a profound work for this moment—and for the ages.” Goldstein highlighted that this sculpture represents a year of substantial growth for MOCA’s collection, emphasizing the balance between current relevance and enduring significance.
In addition to Walker’s work, major acquisitions in 2025 included pieces by artists such as Jacqueline Humphries, Mike Kelley, Julie Mehretu, and Nairy Baghramian, among others. The collection now features 50 artists new to MOCA, including Jonathas de Andrade, Leila Babirye, and Cynthia Daignault.
Several artworks were acquired based on their connections to MOCA and their visibility in recent exhibitions. Highlights include an environmental sculpture by Olafur Eliasson, a media installation by Paul Pfeiffer, and works by Cynthia Daignault and Shizu Saldamando that garnered attention in “Ordinary People: Photorealism and the Work of Art.”
Walker’s “Unmanned Drone” serves as a radical reinterpretation of Charles Keck’s 1921 bronze monument to Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson, which was removed from Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2021. The original monument depicted Jackson on his horse, “Little Sorrel,” and was re-deeded to The Brick before Walker transformed it into her current work, creating a powerful commentary on historical narratives and myth.
Clara Kim, chief curator and director of curatorial affairs, remarked on the collection’s expansion, stating, “This year reflects a sustained and deeply collaborative effort to think critically about what it means to build a museum collection in the 21st century.” She credited donors for supporting acquisitions that fill historical gaps and foster essential conversations about contemporary art.
Support from museum trustees and patrons was crucial to these acquisitions. Notable contributions include works from Kathi and Gary Cypres, Susan and David Gersh, and a purchase made possible through Shari Glazer’s funding. The acquisition of Walker’s “Unmanned Drone” was enabled by a contribution from Beth Swofford.
The efforts of MOCA’s various acquisition committees further facilitated this growth, with the Acquisition and Collection Committee led by Cypres and Chris Walker, and the Emerging Art Fund co-chaired by Jennifer Hawks Djawadi and Corinne Opman.
