The arts are alive and well in Los Angeles. They’re also well-preserved, thanks to the city’s world-class art museums. From the seasoned, household-name Getty to the stunning new Broad, here’s a look at the City of Angels’ most tremendous art repositories.
The Broad
Philanthropists Eli and Edyth Broad are committed to the notion that art should be accessible to all. And at the shining new(ish) contemporary art museum founded and funded by the art-collecting couple, it is. General admission to The Broad’s permanent galleries is free every day the museum is open to the public. The collection includes works by well-known 20th- and 21st-century artists Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtensteinn, Andy Warhol, and Damien Hirst. In good traffic, The Broad Museum is a 15-minute drive from AMLI Lex on Orange.
The J. Paul Getty Museum
A bastion of fine Western art from the Middle Ages to the present day, L.A.’s Getty Museum attracts more than one million visitors annually. The museum’s collection includes works from Rubens, Rembrandt, Manet, Monet, and Renoir. The exemplary architecture of the museum’s two campuses makes them works of art in their own right. The Getty Center’s manicured gardens are another artistic highlight.
Hammer Museum
Entrepreneur-industrialist Armand Hammer amassed an extraordinary art collection during his lifetime. Shortly before his death, he founded a museum to house his collection and make it accessible to the public. Today, the UCLA-affiliated Hammer Museum is one of the most highly regarded cultural institutions in Los Angeles. In addition to highlighting the works of underrated and overlooked artists, the museum hosts more than 300 programs annually. Among the Hammer Museum’s highlights is a 125-year retrospective of National Geographic photography.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
The largest art museum in the western United States, LACMA’s collection is vast in every sense of the word. The sprawling museum houses antiquities, modern art, and everything in between. Japanese art, Latin American art, and Islamic art are particularly well-represented. This Miracle Mile museum’s most extraordinary features include its stunning Grand Entrance building and multi-level Broad Contemporary Art Museum, distinct from the aforementioned Broad Museum.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
MOCA’s collection of 5,000+ works includest iconic examples of abstract expressionism, pop art, and other modern artistic styles. Jackson Pollock, Julian Schnabel, and Philippe Vergne are all represented at the museum’s main branch on Grand Avenue.
Pasadena Museum of California Art
This art museum is one of the best places to view and experience California-inspired art and design. The Pasadena Museum does not have a permanent collection, but its changing exhibits are all California-centric. The museum, a 15-minute drive from AMLI Lex on Orange, hosts the California Design Biennial.
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