Centrally located within Irvine’s Great Park as one of several Palm Court Arts Complex buildings, the Great Park Gallery presents three- to four-month rotating collections of contemporary art. Its early 2025 “More Than You Can Chew” exhibition spotlights works from 17 artists – many from Southern California – examining the “cultural, economic, and political foundations which shape our culinary experiences.”
Sarah Anne Ward paintings use food to riff on other artists’ famous works; an Eriko Kobayashi installation features egg-shaped cloud and flower sculptures, while telling visitors they “are welcome to walk on the eggshells.” Candy and fast food wrappers become materials for other pieces, while “hologram” and oversized bananas, extrapolated produce boxes, and meticulously embroidered replicas of food and drink containers redefine art for viewers of all ages. A Michael Thế Khôi Trần installation recreates elements of a Vietnamese seafood market stall, provoking consideration of how “the Asian community is often reduced to an aesthetic in mainstream media and pop culture.”
The Great Park Gallery is highly worthy of 20-30 minutes of viewing time, benefitting from both free admission and proximity to other Great Park attractions, including the Orange County Great Park Farmers Market on Sunday mornings.
