Black Americana Makes Magic at Oceanside Museum

“Marshall Toomey: Black Americana” brings this former Disney animator’s vibrant storytelling to life through a collection that celebrates the richness of everyday life with the same magic he brought to our favorite animated films.

From Mouse House to Museum Walls

Remember those Disney classics that shaped our childhoods? The same artistic genius behind Aladdin, The Lion King, and Hercules is now painting a different kind of enchantment.

Toomey’s work bounces off the walls with energy, capturing everything from Sunday dinners to neighborhood scenes with a storyteller’s eye and an animator’s flair for bringing moments to life.

A Dream Forty Years in the Making

Before becoming Disney royalty, Toomey was just a kid with a dream of creating comic strips for every newspaper in the world. When that door wouldn’t budge (despite hundreds of tries), he took a leap of faith with a one-way ticket to Hollywood.

Two decades of bringing our favorite animated characters to life later, he’s turned his canvas into a stage where everyday moments become extraordinary adventures.

See you there!

The Marshall Toomey: Black Americana exhibition runs now through April 13, 2025, at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Head to the website here for more details.

This groundbreaking show celebrates Toomey’s Grand Prize win at the 2023 OMA Artist Alliance Biennial, and we can’t wait to see which piece becomes your new favorite.

See you there, San Diego!