New York-based artist Fred Tomaselli creates multimedia paintings bursting with radiant color and meticulous detail. Incorporating natural substances, pharmaceuticals, and collaged elements from printed sources, his work invites us to escape into a world of illusion and imagination—and to reconsider how information and perception shape our understanding of reality.

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Tomaselli has deep roots in Southern California, particularly in Orange County. Born in Santa Monica and raised in Santa Ana, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Painting and Drawing from California State University, Fullerton. His relationship with OCMA began with his first visit to the museum—the first art museum he had ever been to—which left a lasting impression on his path as an artist. In 2015, OCMA presented Fred Tomaselli: The Times, his first West Coast museum exhibition. In 2022, we acquired three works from The New York Times series for our collection, featuring them in our exhibition 13 Women (2023).

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This year, OCMA is proud to honor Tomaselli at ArtSense, reaffirming our belief in the transformative role a museum can play in people’s lives. We remain committed to championing artists whose work shapes contemporary culture and are honored to support Tomaselli’s continued evolution and celebrate his enduring impact.