John Baldessari is resigning from the board of Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art in the wake of recent changes at the museum. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times / April 9, 1997)

Artist John Baldessari resigned Thursday from the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art in the wake of the ouster of the museum’s chief curator and other recent changes at the Los Angeles institution.

The noted artist said in an interview that “to live with my conscience I just had to do it.” His departure follows the museum's ouster of respected chief curator Paul Schimmel and news this week that the pop-cultural slant the museum has taken under director Jeffrey Deitch will continue with an exhibition on disco music’s impact on art and culture.

Baldessari, who has been on MOCA's board since 2000, is the fifth trustee to leave since February. His resignation is another signal that the old guard of L.A.’s art scene has grown disenchanted with the museum's direction under Deitch.