Founded in 1981 as the Center of Contemporary Art, our museum began as an artist-centered space and has since grown into a cultural anchor for South Florida through 30 years of visionary leadership. With support from the City of North Miami, founding director Lou Anne Colodny inaugurated the Charles Gwathmey–designed building that houses the museum today. Opened in 1996, it marked the institution’s transition to the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA). Following suit, Bonnie Clearwater ushered in a transformative era, bringing world-renowned artists into the galleries through her rigorous curatorial projects. Together with founding Chair Richard Shack, the board of trustees, and these pioneering women, MOCA’s early success was cemented.