In the heart of this city are several beautiful museums to explore, with places exhibiting art from Claude Monet to Jean-Michel Basquiat. Here are four museums and their surrounding areas that you can visit!
The Broad
Located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the Broad provides a wide selection of modern art, including the famous works of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol and Kara Walker. Walker’s engrossing exhibition is both informative and thought-provoking. It features a number of murals with her signature silhouettes, depicting haunting images of racism, America and the Antebellum South. Another famous exhibit at the Broad is the infinity mirror rooms by Yayoi Kusama, which gives visitors a unique visual experience as well as an artistic spot for photos. Along with these works, Jeff Koons’ vibrant pop art and large metal balloon sculptures are some more fun art pieces to view. In addition, the Broad’s prime location near the Walt Disney Hall and Grand Central Market also makes it an ideal spot to visit the rest of Downtown LA.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA, is another immersive museum that has a wide variety of traditional art and multimedia exhibits. “Black American Portraits,” a recently-finished exhibition, gave an artistic space for Black artists to unearth U.S. history through a different lens, illustrating scenes from the Harlem Renaissance and various Black Power movements. Previously home to this exhibit as well as the Yoshimoto Nara exhibition, LACMA currently holds many other exhibits such as “City of Cinema“ and the works of Baraba Kruger. “City of Cinema” showcases sculptures, paintings and video materials to visualize the birth of entertainment and cinema. Outside of the exhibits, LACMA also features Urban Light, a popular photo spot for visitors.
The Museum of Contemporary Art
Like the Broad, the Museum of Contemporary Art, or MOCA, is set in a central part of Downtown LA and offers two different branches that museum-goers can visit: MOCA Grand and MOCA Geffen. MOCA Grand is the main location that houses the museum’s primary art collection, currently showing an exhibit titled “Old and New Dreams: Recent Acquisitions in a Collection.” MOCA Geffen is located next to Little Tokyo, which conveniently provides visitors with another cultural hotspot for Japanese food, drinks and stores. The outer exterior of MOCA Geffen spotlights the famous Barbara Kruger mural “Untitled (Questions),” while the inner warehouse holds an installation by Pipilotti Rist that actively engages the viewer through the use of color, light and video.
The Getty
The Getty is a popular spot for LA tourists but is also a beautiful setting that possesses a balance of art, architecture and nature. Some of the most famous artworks here include “Irises“ by Van Gogh and the Impressionist works of Claude Monet. The structure of the Getty itself is a stunning expanse of washed limestone with ambient fountains and sculptures. Outside of the art exhibits lies a botanical garden filled with scenic arches, fragrant flora and a central pond. The garden also features an expansive grass area, which is a popular destination for outdoor picnics and additionally serves as a green space where visitors can sit down and relax.
Cover by Sergii Figurnyi – stock.adobe.com
