Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is proud to present Marshall Toomey: Black Americana, the debut solo exhibition that showcases the life, history, and artistry of Marshall Toomey, an accomplished artist and former Disney animator. This exhibition, open now through April 13, 2025, features Toomey’s richly autobiographical work, blending realism with character study to offer a fresh narrative of the Black American experience—one that celebrates everyday life, traditions, and the joy found outside of struggle.
A collage of images of people
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“My own style is blended with traditional techniques to create an enriched view of the life I’ve experienced,” shares Toomey. “I am taking a look at the positives in everyday life.”
Toomey’s paintings are vibrant and authentic, capturing moments in his life with a sense of vitality that makes them feel almost alive. This mastery of bringing scenes to life stems from his early dreams of storytelling through art. As a child, Toomey envisioned creating a syndicated comic strip that would run in every newspaper in the world. Though he tirelessly submitted hundreds of proposals throughout his young adult years, the dream remained out of reach. Undeterred, Toomey continued to pursue his passion and, at 24, bought a one-way ticket to Hollywood, California, determined to find a new path.
His perseverance paid off, leading to a successful 40-year career as a professional artist, including 20 years as an animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios. During this time, he contributed to some of Disney’s most beloved classics, including Aladdin (1992), The Lion King (1994), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), and Hercules (1997). He also illustrated numerous books, including The Lion King book that followed the film’s release. Now, with his first solo show, Toomey takes a significant step in his fine art journey, channeling his life experiences and artistic evolution into a new body of work that reflects both his rich animation background and his passion for storytelling.
Marshall Toomey: Black Americana offers visitors a unique and personal story, challenging conventional narratives of history. This exhibition highlights the power of storytelling through art, with Toomey’s mission to create “art for the masses” and share untold stories. Toomey’s work invites viewers to see that “there is always more to the story.”
This exhibition is part of OMA’s commitment to presenting diverse perspectives from living artists in Southern California and is made possible by Toomey’s Grand Prize win for his piece The Shop at the 2023 OMA Artist Alliance Biennial.
About Oceanside Museum of Art
Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is a non-profit organization that began providing exhibitions and public programs in 1995 as part of their mission to bring people together to explore the art and stories of Southern California artists. OMA’s exhibition program is dynamic and robust, surprising visitors with a fresh and exciting visual experience nearly every visit. In addition to these boundary-pushing contemporary art exhibitions, OMA’s programming includes youth education programs, adult art classes, concerts, films, and creative community parties and events that appeal to locals and tourists alike. The OMA experience stimulates imagination, presents new ideas, and challenges the familiar in a welcoming environment for those new to art, longtime museum-goers, artists, art students, or simply the curious. For more information on Oceanside Museum of Art, visit www.oma-online.org
