In 1988, Thomas Rhoads was named the museum’s director, mounting that summer its first exhibition, Art in the Raw in the 8,000 square foot clear span, clerestory-rimmed 1908 Imperial Ice Company warehouse building.

[3] The museum's mission focused on pivotal but under-recognized moments and figures in the history of contemporary art and culture and exhibiting local and international artists early in their careers.

Under the banner of the Museum’s Artist Project series, Director Thomas Rhoads and his team of curators organized shows for Andrea Bowers, Meg Cranston, Bruce and Norman Yonemoto, and Lynn Aldrich.

Other important exhibitions at the Museum included The Book Show: Raymond Pettibon (2001), Cavepainting: Laura Owens, Chris Ofili, Peter Doig (2002), Michael Asher (2008 ), Allen Ruppersberg: You and Me or the Art of Give and Take (2009).

The museum also organized acclaimed shows by guest-curators, including Michael Duncan and Kristine McKenna's Semina Culture: Wallace Berman and His Circle (2005),[8] a Walter Hopps-curated George Herms exhibition (2005), and Jori Finkel's Identity Theft: Eleanor Antin, Lynn Hershman Leeson, and Suzy Lake (2007).

One of the museum’s most immersive outreach programs was Park Studio, a free and intensive weeklong art workshop series that coincides with academic spring breaks at SMMUSD and LAUSD public schools.

Past A Collection of Ideas... events include a discussion around Mike Kelley’s final project, the Mobile Homestead (2013), and Crossfader: Listening Like a Sonidero, a hybrid musical-lecture with Josh Kun and Mexican DJ and producer Toy Selectah (2013).

Previous staff curators include Lisa Melandri, current executive director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Jeffrey Uslip, and Jamillah James.