Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) is a not-for-profit arts organization and former museum in Manhattan, New York City, devoted to comic books, comic strips, and other forms of cartoon art. Founded in October 2001 by Lawrence Klein, MoCCA established itself as a significant venue for the preservation, exhibition, and promotion of comic and cartoon art in the United States. Though it ceased operating its own physical location in 2012, the organization continues its mission through its partnership with the Society of Illustrators and its annual MoCCA Fest, which remains New York's largest independent comics showcase.

Lawrence Klein founded MoCCA in October 2001, establishing the organization at 594 Broadway in New York City. The museum quickly became active in the city's cultural life, opening its art gallery in 2003 with the debut exhibit "Gag Art!", which focused on single-panel magazine cartoons. Over the following decade, MoCCA developed a robust programming schedule that included book openings, educational programs in New York City schools, classes, workshops, and lectures. However, on July 9, 2012, MoCCA announced it would close its physical location effective immediately due to fundraising difficulties. The closure was rapid, but by August 2, 2012, MoCCA had arranged to transfer its assets to the Society of Illustrators, securing a street-level location in the Society's Upper East Side building and ensuring the continuation of MoCCA Fest. From 2002 to 2012, the museum presented an annual award at MoCCA Fest to an artist whose outstanding work elevated the comic art form. Originally known as the MoCCA Art Festival Award, it was renamed the Klein Award in 2009 in honor of founder Lawrence Klein. MoCCA also hosted the comics industry's Harvey Awards in 2004 and 2005.

MoCCA's collections and programming centered on comic books, comic strips, and other forms of cartoon art. The organization's scope extended beyond static preservation to active engagement with the comics community and educational outreach. Its exhibition program addressed diverse aspects of the medium, including the relationship between New York City and cartoonists, the work of women comic-book artists, and retrospectives devoted to major figures in the field. The museum's educational mission involved programming in New York City schools as well as hosting classes, workshops, and lectures for broader public engagement.

While specific permanent collection holdings are not extensively documented in available sources, MoCCA's exhibitions featured significant works and retrospectives that highlighted important artists and publishers. Notable exhibitions included retrospectives devoted to Stan Lee and Will Eisner, two towering figures in American comic art. The museum also presented "From Richie Rich to Wendy the Good Little Witch: The Art of Harvey Comics," showcasing the publisher's distinctive characters. In 2010, The Art of Archie Comics exhibit received promotional support through a seven-page story titled "MoCCA Madness" in Archie Digest Magazine #260, written by Arie Kaplan and drawn by Fernando Ruiz. This story featured appearances by MoCCA President Ellen Abramowitz and then-Director Karl Erickson, and was subsequently reprinted in Archie: A Celebration of America's Favorite Teenagers by Craig Yoe (IDW, 2011). Other exhibitions included a show on women comic-book artists and the 2003 debut exhibit "Gag Art!" focusing on single-panel magazine cartoons.

MoCCA no longer operates as an independent museum with its own visiting hours. Since August 2012, its assets and operations have been affiliated with the Society of Illustrators, which maintains a building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The organization's primary public presence now occurs through MoCCA Fest, the annual small-press comic convention first held in 2002. The festival has moved through several venues as it expanded: from 2002 to 2008 it was held at the Puck Building; from 2009 to 2014 at the 69th Regiment Armory; in 2015 it was split between Center548 for exhibitors and the High Line Hotel for programming; and from 2016 through at least 2019, Metropolitan West hosted exhibitors with programming at Ink48. The festival serves as an annual fundraiser, now benefiting the Society of Illustrators. MoCCA maintains an official website at http://www.moccany.org/.