Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum

The Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art is an art history research center located in Irvine, California. The Institute’s mission is to collect, preserve, study, and interpret the visual culture of California from the early colonial period to today. Its collections include a wide range of media including paintings, photographs, prints, objects, documents and archival materials related to the state’s rich cultural heritage.

At the institute visitors can explore more than 100 permanent collection galleries featuring artwork from all eras of California’s history including Native American artworks such as basketry and beadwork; nineteenth-century pastoral scenes of ranches, missions, farms and villages; modernist works by Bay Area Figurative painters; and contemporary art from the last fifty years.

The Institute also features a research library, public programming such as lectures, screenings, and symposia, and traveling exhibitions.

The Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art is part of the University of California, Irvine’s School of Humanities which works to advance knowledge in the fields of history, literature, philosophy, religion, anthropology, art history and foreign languages. Through its collections, exhibitions and programs the Institute serves to foster an appreciation for California’s vibrant cultural heritage among visitors of all ages.

It is open to the public seven days a week. Admission is free for students with valid I.D., children under age 12, and members.

The Institute is named after the late Jack and Shanaz Langson, longtime supporters of UC Irvine who shared a love for Californian art and culture. Their generous endowment was instrumental in creating the Institute and ensuring its place as an important center for research, education, preservation, and appreciation of California’s visual culture today.

The Langson Institute also has an online presence where visitors can explore their digital collections, learn more about upcoming exhibitions, join virtual programs such as lectures, gallery talks, and workshops, or even purchase items from its online store. The online resources available make it easy for anyone to access the Institute’s vast collection from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

These resources are just another way that the Institute is working to share California’s rich culture with people of all backgrounds.

The Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art is a key resources for those interested in learning more about the state’s extraordinary cultural heritage. From its permanent collections to its online resources, the Institute has something for everyone.

It provides an invaluable window into the history and art of California and serves as a reminder that our stories will continue to be told for generations to come. This unique institution promises new discoveries each time you visit! Visit today to experience it for yourself.