This weekend, Atlanta’s Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) marks a quarter-century of amplifying the voices of the state’s contemporary artists.
Founded in 2000 by artist Annette Cone-Skelton and developer David S. Golden, the museum has grown from a grassroots vision born in Cone-Skelton’s pool house office into a cultural institution of nationwide significance. Today, MOCA GA is a vital force in the Southeast’s arts landscape, with an expansive collection, dynamic programming, and a mission rooted in artistic stewardship.
“Since its founding, MOCA GA has been dedicated to cultivating a thriving community around contemporary art and championing the work of Georgia-based artists,” says Cone-Skelton, who continues to lead the museum as president, CEO, and director.
Over the years, the museum has become a hub for emerging and mid-career artists, offering opportunities for exhibition, mentorship, and professional development. Its curatorial vision has spotlighted artists across disciplines while helping to shape Atlanta’s identity as a center for contemporary art.
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Now, MOCA GA is preparing for its next evolution. A custom-designed facility, slated to open next year adjacent to the Goat Farm Arts Center on Atlanta’s Westside, will provide expanded gallery space, a research library, and a public archive. Designed by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects, the new building will also support two coming initiatives: Art for Healers, a wellness-centered program for medical professionals, and the Young Artist Project, connecting Atlanta youth with creative opportunities.
“This move reflects our long-term vision to serve as an accessible, innovative resource for contemporary art,” Cone-Skelton said of the move. “It allows us to deepen our impact on Atlanta’s cultural landscape.”
Even as it grows, the museum remains grounded in its founding ethos: supporting living artists and nurturing the communities that sustain them.
“Since its founding, MOCA GA has been dedicated to cultivating a thriving community around contemporary art and championing the work of Georgia-based artists.”
ANNETTE CONE-SKELTON, MOCA GA PRESident/ceo/directir
So what defines a contemporary art museum built for Georgia, by Georgia? These five milestones tell the story.
1. It made its debut on Peachtree Street.
MOCA GA was conceptualized in the early 2000s in Cone-Skelton’s Midtown pool house office. The museum’s first public location opened in 2002 at 1447 Peachtree Street, just down the road from the High Museum..
2. Its earliest holdings came from an office collection.
Before founding the museum, Cone-Skelton curated CGR Advisors’ corporate art collection alongside Golden. When CGR downsized in 2000, more than 250 works by 110 Georgia artists were donated to help seed MOCA GA’s permanent archive and collection.
3. It pioneered new models for artist support.
The museum’s Working Artist Project (WAP) provides mid-career Georgia artists with an 11-month fellowship, solo show, and printed catalogue. Past fellows include Fahamu Pecou, Kelly Taylor Mitchell, Cosmo Whyte, and Masud Olufani.
4. Its archival work began with Benny Andrews.
In 2002, Cone-Skelton commissioned Museumscape, a lithograph by Georgia-born artist Benny Andrews, to commemorate the museum’s founding. The collaboration launched MOCA GA’s audio-visual archive, now one of the most significant oral history resources documenting Georgia artists.
5. It created space for Georgia’s past, present, and future.From retrospectives of historic figures like Rocio Rodriguez and Herbert Creecy and
Larry Walker to boundary-pushing shows by rising artists like Zipporah Camille Thompson and Krista Clark, MOCA GA has consistently balanced preservation with innovation.