MOCA Los Angeles Reveals 158 Newly Acquired Artworks

Acquisitions include acclaimed Kara Walker sculpture and works by renowned contemporary artists

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA) has revealed the 158 artworks it acquired in 2025, including a monumental sculpture by acclaimed artist Kara Walker and works by renowned contemporary artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Lyle Ashton Harris, Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, and Thomas Hirshhorn. The acquisitions feature a diverse range of mediums, from large-scale installations to photographs and drawings.

Why it matters

MOCA's acquisition of these 158 artworks, including high-profile pieces by Kara Walker and Olafur Eliasson, solidifies the museum's reputation as a leading institution for contemporary art in Los Angeles. The new acquisitions will expand the museum's collection and provide visitors with the opportunity to engage with a wide range of cutting-edge artistic practices.

The details

The centerpiece of MOCA's 2025 acquisitions is Kara Walker's sculpture 'Unmanned Drone,' which was created as a commission for the museum's 'Monuments' exhibition. The 13-foot-tall sculpture is formed from reassembled pieces of Confederate monuments. Another major acquisition is Olafur Eliasson's 40-foot-tall installation 'Observatory for seeing the atmosphere's futures,' which was also created for a MOCA exhibition and allows viewers to see the sky through a kaleidoscopic lens. The museum also acquired works in various mediums by artists such as Lyle Ashton Harris, Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, Thomas Hirshhorn, Paul Pfeiffer, Julie Mehretu, Dennis Oppenheim, Paul Chan, Jonathas de Andrade, and Alex Israel.

  • MOCA revealed the 158 artworks it acquired in 2025 on February 24, 2026.
  • Kara Walker's 'Unmanned Drone' sculpture was created as a commission for MOCA's 'Monuments' exhibition in 2025.
  • Olafur Eliasson's '40-foot-tall installation 'Observatory for seeing the atmosphere's futures' was created for a MOCA exhibition in 2024.

The players

Kara Walker

An acclaimed American artist known for her large-scale silhouette installations and sculptures that explore themes of race, gender, and power.

Olafur Eliasson

A Danish-Icelandic artist known for his large-scale immersive installations that explore the relationship between nature, technology, and human perception.

Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA)

One of the leading contemporary art museums in Los Angeles, known for its cutting-edge exhibitions and acquisitions.

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What’s next

The Kara Walker sculpture 'Unmanned Drone' is currently on view in MOCA's 'Monuments' exhibition, which is a co-production between MOCA and The Brick.

The takeaway

MOCA's acquisition of these 158 artworks, including high-profile pieces by renowned contemporary artists, solidifies the museum's reputation as a leading institution for cutting-edge art in Los Angeles and provides visitors with the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of artistic practices.