‘Sense of Wonder’ Brings Whimsical, Interactive Sculpture to Oceanside Museum of Art
Oceanside Museum of Art is opening Aaron Kramer: Sense of Wonder, an exhibition that invites visitors of all ages to explore playful engineering through the work of a kinetic artist and maker whose practice is shaped by salvaged materials, mechanical tinkering, and a belief that creativity is a way of understanding the world.
Kramer’s sculptures, drawing machines, and automata blur the lines between penny arcades and science museums, transforming simple mechanisms into mesmerizing performances.
From Trash Day Scavenging to Kinetic Art
Growing up, Kramer spent his childhood scavenging materials on weekly trash days and transforming them into forts, go karts, rockets, and secret agent kits.
Mentors in woodshop, metalworking, and art classrooms nurtured his drive to create, and by high school he was already sharing his skills with younger students. That practice of teaching and mentorship continues to shape his work today.
Kramer’s sculptures have evolved from a found object aesthetic rooted in wire forms, woven vessels, and kinetic constructions sometimes inspired by the earliest sonograms of his first child.
His work explores implied function and mechanical life, often taking the form of automata – moving mechanical devices that imitate life. The drawing machines are particularly captivating, turning simple mechanisms into performances that feel both technical and magical.
An Educator at Heart
A passionate educator to this day, Kramer empowers children to build boldly, embrace failure, and cultivate a maker mentality that encourages creative problem solving.
Sense of Wonder is an invitation to engage with art as a living process, celebrating imagination, motion, and the joy of making. It’s the kind of exhibition that works equally well for adults who appreciate the technical skill and kids who just want to see things move.
Exhibition Celebration in May
OMA will host an Exhibition Celebration, welcoming the public to meet the artist and explore OMA’s Spring exhibitions. It’s a chance to talk with Kramer directly about his process and hear how he approaches the intersection of art, engineering, and education.
See you there!
Aaron Kramer: Sense of Wonder proves that the best art sometimes comes from a lifelong commitment to curiosity and a refusal to let go of the maker mentality that starts in childhood.
📆 On view Friday, March 7 – Saturday, August 23, 2026 | Exhibition Celebration: Saturday, May 2, 5 PM – 7 PM
📍 704 Pier View Wy, Oceanside
🎟️ For Exhibition Celebration, register here
ℹ️ More info here
See you there, San Diego!
