The Collection
The roots of the Museum's collection trace back to 1985, when a collection of photographs by Herbert Dewey Ohm was gifted to the Felicita Foundation, a group of dedicated advocates instrumental in establishing an art museum in Escondido. From these humble beginnings, the Museum’s collection has grown to include over 130 paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and photographs by artists of regional, national, and international renown.
Central to the Museum’s mission is a focus on California art and artists from 1945 to the present, with an emphasis on collecting works from exhibitions and artist residencies hosted at the Center. Through initiatives such as artist residencies and commissions, the Museum continues to champion local and regional talent, reaffirming a commitment to celebrating the rich diversity of perspectives within the region, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaborations, and enriching the cultural landscape of Escondido.
The Museum’s collection also serves as an educational resource. The collection database and videos on the Center’s YouTube channel provide artist and specialist interviews, and collection lesson plans for students in grades 6 through 8, created by Museum & Education staff and teaching artists cater to different age groups and educational levels.
Featured Artworks
A folded canvas painting featuring a pink, floral patterned background with blue calligraphy in Arabic script.
Contemporary art display in a gallery with a bronze and blue-tinted glass gate-like rectangular sculpture, a framed mixed media artwork on the wall, and a tall abstract glass sculpture with painted images of clouds and mountains.
An art installation consisting of multiple glass panels with paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media art pieces displayed vertically against a white wall.
Glass display case with a white abstract sculpture, blue glass blocks, and various art pieces including a painted landscape and a textured glass sculpture.
Three fabric banners hanging on a string against a white wall, decorated with Disney characters, Nike logo, stars, and text.
Multi-level wooden shelf with various compartments and red decorative vases displays an abstract wall art installation.
Wooden display shelf with five small bowls, four are natural wood color and one is painted red, against a white wall.
Art installation featuring three painted wooden busts of men's heads on white walls, and multiple small, colorful, handmade figurines arranged in rows on a white panel.
Mixed media artwork featuring a large blue panel with textured copper-colored elements, a shovel hanging from the panel, a worn wooden block with a chisel, and a fabric apron hanging from the shovel, all on a wooden floor in an art gallery setting.
A burnt, blackened sculpture of a catfish on a pink metal base, placed on a rustic, weathered wooden stand with a textured brown background.
A close-up detail image of a mixed-media artwork featuring a large blue panel covered in clay and beeswax, a shovel hanging from the panel, and fabric bag hanging from the shovel.
Abstract painting with splashes of red, black, gray, and orange on a large canvas in an art gallery.