City of Irvine, CA
02/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/12/2026 19:50
From Material to Meaning: New Exhibitions Debut March 7 at the Irvine Fine Arts Center
News Release
City of Irvine
Public Information Office
1 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92606
949-724-6029
02/12/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From Material to Meaning: New Exhibitions Debut March 7 at the Irvine Fine Arts Center
Arts in Irvine presents two new exhibitions opening Saturday, March 7, featuring an opening reception with the artists from 2 to 4 p.m. On view through May 16, First Day of Spring Is Today and Sergio O'Cadiz Moctezuma: In Process offer distinct yet complementary perspectives on transformation, experimentation, and the evolving nature of creative practice.
First Day of Spring Is Today
This group exhibition draws inspiration from cycles of renewal and possibility through painting, sculpture, works on paper, and mixed media -- reflecting on moments of transition through materials, emotions, and culture. Works on view include fiber sculptures that reanimate weathered materials, mixed-media paintings influenced by subcultural aesthetics, and pieces informed by contemporary art, graphic design, and fashion. Exhibiting artists include Amanda Benefiel, Matthew Carter, Cheyne Ellett, Edgar Fabián Frías, Curtis Stage, and Angie Stalker, whose varied approaches create a dynamic dialogue around change, making, and reimagining form.
Sergio O'Cadiz Moctezuma: In Process
Examining the expansive career of an artist who helped shape Orange County's cultural landscape over more than five decades, artist, architect, and muralist, O'Cadiz Moctezuma moves fluidly across disciplines, defying simple categorization. Born in Mexico and working in Orange County from the 1960s through the 1990s, Sergio O'Cadiz Moctezuma: In Process brings a nuanced perspective to work that continues to resonate today. The exhibition features artist ephemera, archival sketches of realized and unrealized projects, sculptures, and select drawings and paintings, offering insight into the ideas and experiences that shaped a pivotal creative legacy.
The opening reception, exhibitions, and parking are free. For more information, visit artsinirvine.org or call 949-724-6880.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. The Irvine Fine Arts Center is located in Heritage Community Park at 14321 Yale Ave.
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Since its incorporation in 1971, Irvine has become a nationally recognized city, with a population of 314,550 that spans 66 square miles and is recognized as one of America's safest and most successful master-planned urban communities. Top-rated educational institutions, an enterprising business atmosphere, sound environmental stewardship, and respect for diversity all contribute to Irvine's enviable quality of life. This family-friendly city features more than 16,000 acres of parks, sports fields and dedicated open space and is the home of the Great Park. For more information, please visit cityofirvine.org.
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