A New OMA exhibit celebrates the “father of modernism”

Actress Diane Keaton once called Irving J. Gill her architectural muse, and the effort to save his pioneering buildings is what first set her on the path of historic preservation. The Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) now celebrates this visionary architect and his enduring imprint on Southern California with the exhibition, Modern Simplicity: The Architecture of Irving J. Gill in Oceanside, on view through April 26, 2026.

Presented in partnership with the Irving J. Gill Foundation, the exhibition celebrates Gill’s pioneering influence on early modern architecture. Known for his minimalist philosophy, clean geometric forms, and innovative use of reinforced concrete, Gill’s designs helped define the region’s architectural identity. The exhibit includes examples of Gill’s earlier designs, depicting  his progression from the Arts and Crafts movement toward his mature, stripped down Modernism.

The city of Oceanside is home to several of Gill’s notable late-career works, designed between 1929 and 1936, including the two landmark buildings that define the east-west axis of the OMA campus: the former City Hall and the original Fire Station #1 and police station. These structures, completed during the final phase of Gill’s career, embody his signature approach, with unadorned surfaces, functional elegance, and a seamless relationship between form and purpose.

The Museum is now doing the work of preservationists like Keaton proud, as the OMA campus will be expanding to include the historic Fire Station #1. This transformation will honor the historical significance of the building while providing new opportunities for cultural engagement, effectively integrating one of Gill’s masterpieces into the museum’s permanent exhibit space.

Through architectural displays, historical context, and scholarly discussion, Modern Simplicity offers an intimate look at Gill’s architectural contributions to Oceanside and Southern California within the broader context of early modernism.