Though the City of Angels boasts an artistic spirit in famous performance arts like movies and music, some of her most celebrated contributions are on colorful canvas or carved from cold stone. Check out the below for L.A.’s most notorious art museums and can’t-miss current exhibitions throughout the county.
Photo By Tahnee L. Cracchiola © 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust
Moving pictures get the spotlight at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures—the world’s premier institution dedicated to the magic, art and science of movie-making. As one of the best museums in L.A., see art in all mediums. The ongoing exhibition, Stories of Cinema, spans three floors and offers an intriguing look inside the complex art of moviemaking. Academymuseum.org
a desert dreams in red (2023), film still, Zarina Bseiso, © Academy Museum Foundation
For modern and contemporary art with an edge, Westwood’s Hammer Museum, adjacent to UCLA’s campus, celebrates creative boundary-pushers in the visual arts. Catch Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living for some of Los Angeles’ best and diverse artists, including Marcel Alcalá, Kang Seung Lee, Maria Maea and more—on display until Dec. 31. Hammer.ucla.edu
Joey Terrill, b. 1955, Woof!, 1984-1985, Acrylic on canvas, 28 × 22 in. (71.1 × 55.9 cm), Private Collection
Exploring stories originating in culture, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Little Tokyo shares a deeper look into the Japanese American experience. Intertwining two distinct cultures, JANM offers a groundbreaking look at art that actively pushes to transform lives and create a better world. On display now is Glenn Khaino: Aki’s Market, which revisits a small 1950s-1970s neighborhood market in East Los Angeles—telling the story of post-World War II trauma, displacement, familial/ transgenerational stories and the exploration of a new spiritual space. janm.org
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The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, known as LACMA, stands as the largest art museum in the western United States, welcoming over 1.5 million visitors each year. Its galleries showcase works spanning various eras and societies, with infamous photo ops both indoors and outdoors. Be sure to see LACMA’s current exhibition, The World Made Wondrous: The Dutch Collector’s Cabinet and the Politics of Possession, which recreates the treasures found in a 17th-century Dutch collector’s cabinet. lacma.org
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The Museum of Contemporary Art has electrified the downtown arts district since 1983 with thought-provoking works from the 1940s to the present day. The upcoming exhibition Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom explores the multi-disciplinary practice of Paul Pfeiffer that unpacks celebrity culture and the feelings of identity and belonging. moca.org
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Natural history comes to life through a creative lens at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where exhibits merge science and artistry to chronicle the evolution of life on Earth. Offering fun and specialty exhibitions year-round, there is always something to discover. Make sure to see the museum’s award-winning exhibit, Dinosaur Hall, chronicling the gargantuan reptiles dating back 66 million years! Nhm.org
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The Broad provides an urban counterpart to historic landscapes. Its collection features over 2,000 prominent works by artists like Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Now on view is the intriguing 12-work installation of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Expansive Presentation of Jean-Michel Basquiat. thebroad.org
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In Brentwood, different continents feel closer than ever, with visitors marveling at European royalty and ancient treasures within the Getty Center’s gleaming architectural campus. Exciting upcoming exhibitions include William Blake: Visionary on display beginning Oct. 16. getty.edu
Satan Exulting over Eve, 1795, William Blake (British, 1757–1827) Color print with graphite, pen and black ink, and watercolor, Getty Museum
The Getty Center’s sister property—The Getty Villa—transports guests to 1st-century Rome with antiquities placed in an idyllic Mediterranean setting overlooking the Pacific Palisades and the sparkling ocean below. From natural beauty and landscaping to ancient relics within, The Getty Villa transports visitors to a Roman countryside fit with a seaside breeze. Getty.edu
Located in San Marino, The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens immerses guests in the beauty of art, literature and nature through historic estates and lush gardens. At The Huntington’s Art Museum specifically, experience art from British, European, American and Asian backgrounds spanning more than 500 years with a stellar collection of over 45,000 objects, from paintings to prints and even photography. huntington.org
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Insight into diverse cultures, faiths, and histories lives within The Skirball Cultural Center and its exhibitions exploring connections between traditions, plus classes and programs to experience historical lessons firsthand. Bring the kids along and encourage them to use the power of imagination at the permanent exhibition, Noah’s Ark, in the lifelike wooden replica adorned with fancifully crafted animals. skirball.org
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