Los Angeles County Museum of Art

9/27/2012

It is rather difficult to rate LACMA with all its interchanging art exhibits, however as a whole, the museum is great. The location is great, sitting right next to the La Brea Tarpits, and Hancock Park. There is a lot of art to choose from as well. Whether you like classical, modern, sculpture, etc ...

Right now "Levitated Mass" is there, which is the famous rock that was transported through LA freeways to get to LACMA. It is absolutely beautiful. It is simple and clean, and as a art student, a beautiful thing to feel, see, and be surrounded by. This is outside the actual museum, so you can see it from the street or park and see it without paying admission.

There is also a great installation called "Urban Light" that has been there for quite some time now .. it features a large amount of street lights that really illuminate at night and are a beautiful site for family pictures or engagement photos as well.

I love LACMA because there is always something new and it is a nice place to relax and look at art .. PLUS there is a Japanese specific building that has beautiful pieces as well!

1/2/2013

It was my very first time there.  And I was definitely impressed.  The exhibits were clean, neat and very quiet.  There were security guys strolling around the exhibits.  There was so much to see and get inspired from.  There were sculptures, paintings from famous artists, modern art...etc.  It was a place where you can clear your mind and indulge into art and inspiration.  It was a place where you can turn anything into art.  

I walked out the museum feeling refreshed and enlightened.  Definitely a great place to be.

P.S. The lamp posts outside the museum is a great place for pictures!  It was the exact same place that showed up in the movie No Strings Attached.  Go check it out!

1/20/2013

An amazing art museum. There are always new exhibits to check out. The pieces range from small to life sized pieces of art that are bound to amaze you. You really need the whole day to explore all the museum has to offer, so whenever I have visitors to LA that are open to some culture... it is a must!

It brings me back to my days of painting and drawing, then art history courses in high school and college. My love of art always shines bright on my visit here.

12/25/2012

World class museum in a nice neighbor, conveniently located next to the grove. Easy parking, but if the streets are full, their lot isn't too expensive.

The museum itself is wonderful. The Levitated Mass and Urban Lights are great outdoor exhibits- you don't even need to buy a ticket to see them.

I still need to try the cafe, but I've heard it doesn't live up to the museum.

Protip- if you come here a lot, become a member to save a ton of money and get early access to exhibits!

9/3/2013

went there this weekend. was great. I loved the Japanese building! they had a great golem set as well :)

8/31/2012

I'm in charge of keeping my three nieces and nephews amused this week, ages 8, 6 and 3. This is a rather tall order, since I'm from out of town and when I suggest a popular activity, they tell me "been there, done that". In desperation for a fun, short afternoon excursion, I turned to Google and came up with LACMA Boone Children's Gallery.

Driving up, the museum looked great. There a lot of lawn space between buildings with art installations such as the Levitating Mass, a giant boulder, and a Streetlamps exhibit. I was relieved and surprised when I went up to the ticket window and the lady did not charge me anything! I guess since the kiddos are members, I get in free with them! Not that it mattered, as we did not see anyone to even take our tickets at the entrance.

We started walking toward the Hammer Building, which houses the Boone Children's Gallery. On the way, we played with an art installation that looked like a bunch of gigantic hanging spaghetti that kids can run through. Once in the Hammer Building, we quickly found the art room. I must really love my niece and nephews because I subjected myself to painting with them even though I really hate arts and crafts. The kids loved painting and promptly threw themselves into producing their masterpieces. The room is lovely--bright and sunny with art hung on display and calming Asian music softly playing. The smiling ladies who run it greet you at the door and take you to one of the benches surrounding the rectangular tables and help you get started. As a parent, you can get as involved as you want. I saw some sitting on benches on the sidelines playing on their smartphones and I saw others sitting down and painting with their kids.

After an hour of painting, I moved them along to the next room for storytelling. Thus was okay. The lady reading was sweet, but she kept stopping the story to ask asinine questions that didn't tie into the story. We skipped out on this activity to go explore the grounds . . .

. . . which was a huge win! I didn't even know that the La Brea Tar Pits that I'd always heard about was right outside the Japanese Pavillion! When I stepped outside and smelled the tar, I starting jumping up and down in excitement. You also get into the Page Museum free--another plus!

People with toddlers: the beautiful grassy park around the tar pits looks beautiful and clean, but it is full of tar! We climbed trees--there is tar on the trees! We ran on the grass--there are mini tar pits in the grass! Somehow we got tar on our clothes and hands even though we were extra careful. Wear black! I liked looking at the big black bubbles oozing up out of the tar pits. We found sticks and stuck them in a small tar patch almost a foot in diameter in the grass and watched the gooey tar drip off the end back onto the ground. Then we explored Project 19, an old excavation site, and climbed onto giant sloth statues on the grass. It was lots of fun for my young kiddos.

Although we didn't check out any indoor exhibitions, we had so much fun exploring the grounds and buildings. Even the long escalator going up to the Broad Contemporary Art Museum was fun for them. Parking was ten bucks. I got a whole afternoon of fun and education for ten bucks in LA. Awesome.

8/19/2012

LACMA is way bigger than any of the other museums I've ever been to, and has an amazing variety of works. I saw paintings by Picasso, along with 1900s works from the Americas, more contemporary pieces, etc. One could literally spend all day among these walls

My favorite building was the Japanese Art Pavilion. The space is designed as a spiral -- an elevator takes you to the top and you slowly work your way down to ground level. I loved the works I saw there, which included countless scrolls and paintings.

There's a discount for students (just present your ID), and you just show your ticket to the staff to enter each exhibit, so keep that handy. Plus, the museum is located conveniently close to the tar pits, which also warrant a quick peek if you're in the area.

2/21/2013

This place is awesome, it every type of art imaginable. Some things I would not call art, but was interesting. One could easily spend a whole day in this place. I also went to the tar pits next door, neat also.

I highly recommend this place to everyone.

9/10/2012

free jazz fridays, yes! Love LACMA exhibitions and lights at night. great location for photos, lounging around, and seeing great art.  

would recommend getting membership if you are a frequent.  parking is approximately $10 but there are plenty of meter parking around.

8/24/2013

What a great day spend at this museum recently! As a marketer, I am so impressed with how they have tailored their offerings to current lifestyles. It's open until 7 pm on Sat and Sunday. They have not just a cafe but a restaurant on site (Ray's), where I had a great steak. In addition,the Stark Bar (on site) is a great place to take the edge off the legs after a day of the slow museum walk. There is live free concerts on Sat evening (probably summer only). And they have film and lecture series. I just can't say enough about the place.

10/25/2012

Wear comfortable shoes!

7/9/2012

Fantastic museum is fantastic. This is one of my favorite spots in LA. LACMA's exhibits are always unique and interesting. I really like that they showcase art from all parts of the world and from different eras in time. I visit this museum at least twice a year and I have always had a very pleasant experience. Whether you're interested in original Edwardian fashion pieces, contemporary pop art, or ancient Greek artifacts, this is a place that appeals to all of an individuals' creative interests. Also, you should all check out the Metropolis exhibit while it is still there! It is incredible! It is a kid's DREAM. In fact, it is anybody's dream regardless of age. A little city constructed out of blocks and cars and other materials not uncommonly found in a child's toy box form this unique construction that borrows ideas from different architectural designs from all over the world!

One section of the museum that I would like to focus on in particular is the Japanese Art Building. The exhibits are organized flawlessly and the whole building is constructed sort of like a downwards spiral. My favorite parts of the Japanese art section are the calligraphy and haiku showcases. This exhibit gives me the chills. The simplicity of the poetry, the beauty of the calligraphy, which often resembles some form of living creature or natural structure is just astounding. The lighting and construction of the Japanese art building casts a solemn kind of tranquility that forces the observer to become introspective. It is just lovely.

Overall, LACMA is large, clean, and laid out very nicely. The Urban Lights display is obviously a showstopper. It is the first thing most people think of when they think of LACMA. It is also probably the most photographed spot in LA. I have this crazy, indescribable love for street lights, and the LACMA lights do not disappoint!

The Friday jazz nights are lovely to share with your significant other or a group of friends.

Believe it or not, parking is not too hard to find! There is a lot of available parking in the residential areas (which thankfully do not require permits). The La Brea Tar Pits are right next door. Also, the park adjacent to the museum is a lovely place to unwind.

I would highly, highly recommend this museum for anybody that wishes to spend the day churning their creative juices and admiring really unique art.

I leave you all with this very unique take on things:
"You can't just do
Anything you want-
It's a squid's life"

-Hakuin Ekaku (as seen in Japanese art museum)

7/7/2012

This review is for the Urban Lights near LACMAA:

Great place to take pictures both in the daytime and evening. There are no security/staff there to bother you even when we had a big photo group meet up there. It's free and it's beautiful!  It is definitely a sight to behold.

It's best to go on a Sunday or after 6pm (or something) when the parking meters are free.

1/12/2013

I have been to the Kubrick exhibit 3 times.  Spectacular, you are hit from the moment you walk in with two giant screenings of pieces from his BEST films and soundtracks kind of eery and spooky and wierd.  You will quickly realize that the only way to digest Kubrick is to not pre-judge just hang on and enjoy the ride, you may need more than one visit to see everything. This exhibit was 10 times better than the Tim Burton exhibit I dare say, it is an adventure.

Sidenote:   Ryan O'neil  (see Barry Lyndon)  was there so keep your eyes peeled because you never know what will transpire, it is a strange and special day.

7/9/2013

Was here recently for the Stanley Kubrick exhibit. It was excellent! My favorite exhibit so far has to be the Tim Burton exhibit from a couple years ago. Metropolis 2 is a definite must see along with the Pavilion for Japanese Art. There are so many classic and contemporary exhibits from around the world that even the most casual art fan will find something to love.

7/8/2013

For museum-lovers, this is a can't miss if you're in the LA area.  They have a huge selection of European, Asian, Egyptian, and Modern art, and a few installations that are fun for kids and adults alike.  LACMA is home to Urban Lights, which you can visit at the entrance to the museum even if you don't pay for a ticket.  If you're hungry, there are a few places with very tempting menus.  If you're thirsty, there's a bar too, which looks very inviting.

8/5/2012

Every 1st weekend if you have a BofA card you get in for free otherwise the normal admission is something like $15.  For that price to be part of a major art institute and the ability to hang around with an outdoor bar and restaurant.  They also have nice outdoor seatings with cafes you can bring food.  For a family and especially on Sunday's you have family activities, food trucks and if you want to walk a block to my favorite Petersen Car Museum, LaBrea Tar Pits.

9/17/2012

LACMA rocks! Took the kids here and had a blast at the Tim Burton exhibit. His collection was by far the most original, talented and definitely over the top..what an imagination!

Also enjoyed roaming through the various galleries containing great art of worldly cultures, tapestries and century old artifacts.  The handmade, gold inlaid rugs were unbelievable in design considering size, scale and utilities.  Priceless works of wonder.

Check the calendar, the museum hosts movie nights for $5 (sometimes free), small music concerts and talk nights, also free to minimal charge. They also have private parties for members, mostly for opening night and tributes of the month.

Make LACMA part of a date or friends hangout, take the family or fly solo.  I love getting lost in here.

1/16/2014

Saw the Calder exhibit and it was worth the extra fee! Bring a jacket though because it was really chilly in the resnick pavilion. Had a wonderful coffee break at coffee and milk then wandered around the museum. Metropolis in the contemporary building wasn't running (boo) and most of the Japanese pavilion was closed (boo hiss) but otherwise the ahmanson building housing the john divola special exhibit was really fun.  The Agnes varda film house is a must see! And of course we ended our day watching the lamps light up :) what a wonderful way to spend a Thursday

8/10/2013

I am not sure how anyone can give LACMA fewer than five stars. It's a classy act on all levels. The free music evenings are simply marvelous.  Jazz, Latina and classical from Friday to Sunday.  Picnic, drink, relax, families, etc.  and you can take a stroll through high quality art with excellent opportunities to see a wide range of installations.  Take advantage of it

8/21/2012

Much better than I was expecting! Very extensive collection with clean facilities and helpful staff.

Plan a day, because there is a LOT of material to cover! Exhibits are well curated, and not just boring clones of one another.

Parking is easy and convenient in a clean underground lot.

Don't forget to grab some food at Ray's (located the museum entrance).

8/14/2012

I love LACMA.  It was the furthest I ever rode East on my bike, as a child from the Westside.  Later in life, I lived my twenties in the neighborhood...and I always was in the permanent collection.  Two new things that amaze me about the LACMA:

1)  A new director has meant that the collection has refreshed and rebooted:  many reshuffled permanent collection displays.
2)  Jazz Fridays:  public drinking in a genteel setting:  it feels like Paris.

Bravo!

9/25/2011

This place is huge and amazing.  Have to at least check out this place once in your life.  I got lost in this museum and let my mind go.

They have a wide variety of different genres, regions, messages, and types of art here.  It's great to take the kids here to get them a lil art history lesson.

I would say the best art would be in the European era.  Even though there's no statue of David or The Thinker, its was beautiful.

6/4/2012

LACMA Latin Jazz on Saturdays: They have all sorts of Latin Jazz every Saturday 5-7pm.They try to cover every related culture....Puerto Rican, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Mexican, Peruvian, Costa-Rican, Colombian, Venezuelan, Mexican, African, Arabic, and more.  It is held in the grassy area closer to 6th street.  They set up rows and rows of chairs or you can bring your own chairs and a blanket, set it up on the grass and have a picnic. It is a great time every Saturday from May 26-June1 2012, especially if you like to salsa dance or just watch the dancers. They also do more traditional Jazz on Fridays in the front of the museum complex closer to Wilshire from April 27-November 2012 from 6-8pm. You can check the schedule by calling them or possible looking online.  323-857-6000 x 2011 or music@lacma.org

Both jazz events are FREE!!!

5/29/2012

I never really thought to review this museum.  It's enormously popular and definitely does not need my input.  But I'd like to give my 2 cents anyway.

I am deeply fond of LACMA.  An appreciation I didn't realize until my last two visits.  LACMA is the only museum I maintain a membership with and for good reason.  It really has become a place to see and be seen in LA.  I can't think of anywhere else in LA that you'll see so many of the fashionable Angelinos stepping out right along side families indoctrinating their children with culture.  

LACMA is the only museum that caters to all types.  They have exhibits that appeal to the wholesome family crowd and the avant garde.  I have to give enormous props for having entire exhibits dedicated to female artists.

1/31/2013

This is an amazing museum.  My first experience at the LACMA was to see the Tim Burton exhibit.  I'm a huge Tim Burton fan, and the exhibit definitely lived up to my expectations.  Aside from that exhibit (which is now closed), they have some really fascinating permanent galleries, including a section with Modern Art (which happens to be my favorite).  

The LACMA also has a really great atmosphere.  Surrounding the museum are other museums, nice places to walk, and nice places to eat and relax.  It's a great place to go with friends, dates, or family.

3/22/2013

Fantastic museum! I try to make it out to LACMA at least once every other time that I am in LA for an extended amount of time. Yesterday I had an hour or so to kill which isn't nearly enough time to enjoy the actual museum so I decided to check out the free exhibits around the museum's exterior: levitated mass (see pic) and the urban lights during the day. Both were pretty neat. I honestly did not think I was going to be inspired by a big rock mounted to concrete slabs, but I was pleasantly surprised and the urban lights, gosh I love them. It's definitely a different feel during the day, but I can see why everyone and their mother's mother wants to take pictures here. LACMA houses an extensive permanent collection that covers a range of mediums and time periods. The last time I was here I brought my mom and we barely made it through half of the exhibits being there for a few hours. This place is definitely a must-visit for everyone, art connoisseur or not.

• 

  Levitated Mass!

  Levitated Mass!

5/30/2011

Tim Burton exhibit is super awesome!
All his cool sketches, paintings, short films, letters, movie paraphernalia and more!  I really liked the the glow and the dark room. It was a nice added touch. =)

I have been to LACMA in years so it was cool to go explore it twice in one week! For the Tim Burton exhibit I went during member's preview day and also during his book signing day. It's cool to see all his fans dress up to meet him. Regular price for the exhibit is $20.

After the museum, I checked out the contemporary art exhibits, which have a really cool super ginormous elevator and the park around the back which had a salsa band playing.  The museum was also setting up a rock concert for the evening. So many things to do here on the weekend!

Parking is $10. But I think you can do street parking if you don't plan to stay too long. Great place to walk around, picnic and enjoy art, music and people watching. =)

6/18/2011

This is one of my favorite museums *ever* right by the Natural History Museum and the La Brea tar pits... they always have really amazing exhibits of modern art or entertainment that it's hard to not visit LACMA constantly. I go here whenever I have the chance, having an annual membership gives you perks like being able to attend events, etc. not open to the public.

Plus it's free after 5pm on the weekdays - get cultured people!

11/23/2012

Great place to spend the day and just wander around and enjoy all of the art.
Japaneses Building and artwork is AMAZING.

7/9/2011

I can't believe I'd never been here before today. What a fantastic place! Definitely on par with some of my other favorite art museums. I explored the hell out of this place today, spending a full day there, did the Tim Burton exhibit (which you have an allotted time to go but can hang out as much as you want) that was fantastic but very crowded. Sat for a few hours of "The Clock" film which is incredible (it's a 24-hour-long film that uses clips from hundreds of movies that talk about or show the current time, and it's sync'd with the actual time, which takes some getting used to).

Their cafe was terrible but they seemed to have other eateries that seemed better that I want to check out next time I'm there.

10/18/2005

A staggering permanent collection of 100,000-plus works - spanning a time period from 6,000 B.C. to the Twentieth Century - displayed throughout five buildings, makes this a must-see for tourists and residents alike. Among the many treasures to be found here are ancient arts from Egypt, West Asia, Greece, Rome, and Africa, ceramics,  paintings, metalwork, lacquers, bronze and stone sculpture, watercolors, and jades from southeast Asia, European glass and furniture, Limoges, English porcelain, pottery, and silver, European and American etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, and silkscreens, and works by the great masters like Degas, Rembrandt, and Monet and contemporary artists like Hockney. A specially-designed pavilion for Japanese art houses Edo-period paintings, woodblock prints, porcelain, tea ceremony ceramics, Buddhist sculptures, and gold lacquer. An extensive calendar of events includes the Monday evening concert series, Friday night jazz programs April through December, film restrospectives, and docent tours focusing on a particular artist or specific sections of the museum. Four different stores offer a selection of books, exhibition catalogues, posters, note cards, postcards, jewelry, educational toys for children, and home furnishings, including decorative accessories and bath products. An outdoor sculpture park and a cafe allow you to relax and enjoy a nosh between browsing the many galleries. Admission is free on the second Tuesday of each month.

7/28/2013

Sunday is a good day to visit LACMA since the street parking on 6th Street is free if you can find a space  (I hate to pay for parking)   We were lucky today and found a space right away.  LACMA has a lot of art.  I love art but can become overwhelmed if I try to see too much so today we focused on Abstract Expressionist and the New York School paintings on the second floor of the Ahmanson Building.  My favorite painting for the day was called "Freeway and Aqueduct" by Richard Diebenkorn.  He painted this painting in 1957 and features at the bottom left a part of the LA River, and, on the right what is most likely the 5 freeway.  A nice combination of various shades of greens with a bit of brown and blue. Check out both LACMA and Diebenkorn  - you will not go away disappointed unless you started out that way.

9/7/2011

this review is for the outside of the museum itself.
My friend, who's a photographer, and i came here 2 do a photoshoot 4 my bday invites. . . I've seen on most of my friends profile picture, the oh so famous white lamp posts. . .and of course i wanted 2 have a picture also! We arrived around 930pm.
What a perfect night 2 take pictures. . .nice and warm prolly abt 88 degrees.
There were 3 other couples there taking there engagement pictures.
The texture u get of the background of the picture is AMAZING!
Everyone there was pretty chill. . .

10/23/2012

SOOOO much to see!! Never enough time!!!

I love this museum very neat.

Sunday night is Sundaylive when they have classical performances... In LOVE!!!!

7/20/2013

LACMA is my favorite museum in the city for art alone.  it has the biggest collection of art out of any museum in LA. I love the European 1700's and 1800's and impressionist art.  And the special displays are truly special.

9/1/2012

I love this place! i can never go enough, the art is always changing and there is always something new to see. a must see in L.A.

5/14/2011

Born and raised in LA, it's embarassing to confess that I have never been to LACMA until today. ?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?! I know, I know, and I consider myself a LA girl? What's wrong with me?!

Well today, courtesy of MUSE Artwalk, I was able to visit and enjoy all of LACMA and it's offerings for free! It was so much fun and such an interesting experience, I felt like a tourist in my own city. I like how everything feels spread out and spacious, and how the whole museums just blends and integrates itself into the city. You can drive by it on Wilshire and it doesn't stand out all too much, besides the lamppost art display in the front really. But once you're in the museum, it's feels very separate and time just slows down a lot. I like that feeling. I also loved how contemporary everything felt, not the old stuffy feeling some museums give off. It had a very modernist edge to it. Great place to spend an afternoon! Hooray, I can offically call myself a true LA person!

1/9/2013

For a perfect family day, get a NEXGEN card that allows your child and one adult into the museum (not a special showing) to peruse and critique at your leisure. The giant boulder is a fun little walk for children and adults, but is most interesting in the photos that you take.
We will be going back again and again with the NEXGEN!

12/11/2012

Great place to visit and a nice experience in mid Wilshire
they also have live music some days which gives
more feeling to your visit
It is good for locals as well as tourists