A Museum Should Exist at the Heart of a Community

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is an artist- and audience-centered institution that brings communities together under the shared philosophy that art has the power to engage our imaginations, challenge our perceptions, and inspire change. Opened in 1999, the Museum has established itself as a leader in the arts, presenting innovative exhibitions and educational programs.

Designed by award-winning architect Will Bruder, SMoCA’s minimalist building (an ingenious transformation of a former movie theater) has five galleries for showcasing rotating exhibitions and works from the Museum’s growing permanent collection, along with a sixth multi-use area called _____ space (blank space). Always on view is Knight Rise, a Skyspace by Arizona-based artist James Turrell—who is heralded internationally as one of the most significant artists of our time.

SMoCA engages with emerging and established artists from around the world and from our own community to support new commissions and encourage dialogue about the art of our time. The result is a lively community space that is a laboratory for creative thinking and new ideas. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion as organizational values, SMoCA, together with creatives across platforms, promotes cross-cultural dialogue and fosters mutual understanding and respect.

We are grateful for the support from our partners such as the City of Scottsdale, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Billie Jo and Judd Herberger, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation, and the thousands of individuals, businesses, and groups who have given time, money, ideas, and energy to help the Museum grow and prosper over a nearly 25-year history.

Visit SMoCA and experience the unexpected.

Jennifer McCabe
Director and Chief Curator, SMoCA

SMoCA’s Mission Statement

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art champions creativity, innovation, and the vitality of the visual arts. We seek to build and to educate audiences for modern and contemporary art, as well as to provide opportunities for the artistic community—locally, nationally, and internationally. SMoCA provides a memorable experience of art, architecture, and design by exploring new curatorial approaches and by highlighting cultural context. We interpret, exhibit, collect, and preserve works in these media.

SMoCA Advisory Council 2023-2024

Members

Officers

Cristóbal Martínez, Chair.