Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa Cleveland) opened its 2026 season to several hundred guests on Friday, Jan. 30, with a reception highlighting four new exhibits that will run through Aug. 2.

The exhibits—"Ohio NOW: State of Nature,” “Sky Hopinka: The Myth Is Now,” “KING COBRA: “When You Are Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” and the museum premiere of the film installation “Homing Instinct: Letting Go of the Shore”—are designed to encourage conversations that span nature, memory, survival, and responsibility—spanning centuries, ecosystems, and lived experiences.

Guests socialize and study the four exhibits at moCa's recent 2026 season opening event.“Opening night felt electric,” exclaims Matthew Dennis, moCa Cleveland marketing and communications manager. “Guests were genuinely impressed by the exhibitions and kept talking about how fresh, immersive, and welcoming the space felt.”

If the works are meant to stimulate conversations, FreshWater photographer Reuben Kutash, who was at the opening, says the reception guests were engaging with the exhibits and discussing the pieces.

Dennis agrees.

“What stood out most was how many people said the work sparked real conversation and curiosity, with several guests surprised by how dynamic and engaging the season feels right from the start,” he says.

Guests may react strongly to the bisected great white shark, frozen between life and decay, in KING COBRA’s installation.

“I believe what surprised me most was seeing how people would respond to KING COBRA: When You Are Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” Dennis exclaims.

Get a peek at all four exhibits, the activities at moCa Cleveland’s opening reception, and the reaction of the guests through the lens of Kutash’s photos.