Material Matters

Material Matters commemorates five decades of MoCA Arlington’s Artist Studio Program with work by selected residency alumni. The exhibition surveys the broad material and conceptual experimentation that has developed through the program, bringing together installation, sculpture, painting, and mixed-media works by artists whose practices have shaped the Washington, DC region and reached national and international audiences.

The exhibition considers how artists have responded to major social, political, economic, environmental, and feminist concerns over the past fifty years. Its emphasis on the physical qualities and processes of art invites close observation and discovery, while also highlighting how many participating artists significantly transformed their practices during their MoCA Arlington residencies. The exhibition is curated by Amanda Jirón-Murphy, MoCA Arlington’s Curator and Residency Program Manager.

When: June 27 through September 13, 2026

Venue: MoCA Arlington, Main Level, 3550 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201

Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m., or by appointment

Lineup: Negar Ahkami, Shahla Arbabi, Roxana Geffen, Sarah Hardesty, Marissa Long, Danielle Mysliwiec, Ryan McCoy, Foon Sham, and Rachel Schmidt

Related Program: Art After Hours takes place Saturday, June 27, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: Price not available

Ages: No age restriction is specified.

Run time: This is an ongoing gallery exhibition; no visit duration is specified.

Accessibility and Transit: The museum lists access via the Orange and Silver Metro lines at Virginia Square Station, as well as Metrobus A76 and ART Line 41. No additional accessibility details are provided.

Support: The exhibition is supported by an Anonymous Donor, the 15th Street Foundation, Pamela Doty, the Georges Family Foundation, Penne and Brian Nelson, and Marsha Semmel, with additional support from Stefanie Fedor, Martha and David Foster, Marlene and Michael Harrison, and Holly Koons.