Los Angeles County Museum of Art

6/20/2014

The LACMA is a very well-maintained and large museum.

The exhibits are great, and there are also a variety of special visiting artists/exhibitions.

You can either park at the LACMA or find street parking, which in my opinion isn't that difficult.

Students (with a student ID) get a discount, and the yearly membership is a great deal.

11/11/2014

Loved loved LACMA!!!! Spent over two hours here and barely scratched the surface.
There are so many artist that I didn't know and so glad to have been given the opportunity to discover as well as see some of my favorites- Picasso, Renoir, & Matisse just to name a few.
I absolutely loved the layout and the curators were amazing!!!!
so many halls filled sculptures and paintings that make you contemplate thought, mood and inspire! a definite MUST for
Anyone.

• 

  One of the levels

  One of the levels
• 

  The lamppost outside the entrance

  The lamppost outside the entrance

11/18/2014

I saw so many masterpieces and beautiful works of art.  A museum employee was very helpful and gave us directions on where to go to see what, and she even came and found us and gave us our own history lessons on a few paintings! It was amazing.
I saw Picasso, Claude Monet, Jackson Pollack, Magritte, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, to name a few. Really wanted to see the Korean exhibit but it was closed for the day to make additions.
There are also tables outside near the Urban Lights to sit and eat.
Will be back again!

P.s. we paid $12 for parking in the LACMA parking garage.

1/13/2015

This place is a gem. There are not many places where one can enjoy a Warhol, Matisse, and ancient Mayan sculptures in one location. The special exhibits are amazing as well. It's worth it to pay the extra ten bucks and visit these as well. Amazing day at an amazing place.

6/2/2014

I think I'd definitely need a couple of days to be able to see everything here, but for what it's worth, we got a pretty good tour.

My cousin is a LACMA member so he was able to get tickets for the husband and me, and we visited pretty much everything except that Urban Light thing that everyone seems to like taking selfies in front of.

I love that they have live jazz on the premises, it brings an energy not usually found in art museums. People had picnic blankets and lawn chairs and little children were dancing. It was such an upbeat, fun atmosphere.

Some parts of the museum look like they haven't been updated since the 80s (i.e. Paviliion for Japanese Art) and the Brea tar pits were a bit worse for wear but overall it didn't take away from the appeal of the museum.

Extra star for having a Coffee + Milk store on the premises. We definitely needed it on such a hot, sticky, normally lazy day.

9/9/2014

Love the free lamppost display outside (if you've never been here, you've probably seen 'em in your friends photos...it's a bunch of old lampposts...row after row of them....makes for some great photos ops and interesting lighting and angles!)
Great views of Hollywood from the top of the escalators.
This place has some really interesting exhibits on display.
I especially loved the Stanley Kubrick exhibition.
Not a lot of Impressionist art....for that, you should go to the Norton Simon museum in Pasadena or The Getty.
Fun way to spend the day!
Try to go on a free admission day and don't forget to visit the La Brea tarpits right outside and the giant rock lodged in the ground!

6/20/2014

I've been to plenty of museums in the country as well as the world and this one would be in the tops of my list. It's clean, huge, and well maintained with plenty of different art and important historic pieces from around the world. We came on a day where they had specials, so the admission was free, although they ask for a donation, which kind of negates it if you decide to donate.

We also came when a school or summer program brought in many kids, although they weren't bratty and the staff made sure they were well behaved. Just like the Chicago museum of fine art, they hire a lot of black security personnel. Not sure why this is a trend, just something i've noticed.

There are so many different exhibits (which requires different tickets to access them), that you wouldn't be able to see and do everything here in one day, unless you like walking/standing for long periods of time. I was only able to get through 2 different buildings in 3 hours, and still had a few more to go. But I was all museumed out for the day.

The cafe has plenty of food options, although is pretty hefty in terms of pricing. The seating is somewhat limited, so one busy days, don't expect many of them available.

This place is definitely worth a few trips to see/visit all of it.

7/1/2014

I love going to art museums when I visit some place new. Coming from New York, and being spoiled by the larger museums and galleries, LACMA did not disappoint.

My visit was brief (Americas & European art), and I definitely spent more time enjoying the complex. The entire facility is nicely designed and a pleasure to walk through. In the Art of The Americas building and the other one for European art, you get greeted by a wide arrange of art, some familiar like a Sargent and a couple of Thomas Cole's works, as well as Braque's in the modern era. Definitely a joy to walk through and rediscovering art. Also very large spaces, it feels really cool walking through the galleries.

If I have another chance, I'll definitely explore more of the complex.

Definitely worth the trip! Plus, the surrounding area is so cool!

• 

  Oh hey a Sargent.

  Oh hey a Sargent.
• 

  The cool urban jungle thing~

  The cool urban jungle thing~

2/7/2015

for the space afficionados, this is a mandatory visit. Is a cool place to take picture of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and of the city landscape.

11/11/2014

I went for my first time today and was pretty pleased. Parking is $12. Admission is free for children under 17, $10 for students with id, & $15 for adults. I believe it's at a discounted rate for senior citizens. It's free every 2nd Tuesday of each month. I came for the Picasso pieces,  but ended up staying longer because of the other displays. I recommend staying until nighttime because of the Urban Lights. I will definitely come back soon.

• 

  Cold Shoulder

  Cold Shoulder
• 

3/25/2014

We came for the urban light exhibit, a collection of restored cast iron antique street lamps from all around Los Angeles, but I was mesmerized by the Berlin Wall exhibit that towered over me outside of the museum.  Different artists came in and did graffiti on the north and south side of the wall, all political in nature, and each side of the wall had a very different story to tell.

All I could think about was Gaza.
It was sobering. My mind raced, wondering when apartheid would end for Palestinians, when their open air prisons would be shut down and their oppressive walls crumbled in the name of social justice... When will LACMA exhibit the Gaza wall, and who will tell the story?  I stared at the wall in the middle of a bustling city at midnight and couldn't help but feel the heavy weight of knowing history may not repeat itself... But it rhymes....

4/15/2014 Updated review

Don't get me wrong - I love LACMA as much as the next guy.  What's not to love about priceless artifacts and beautiful art?  That is exactly the reason why I'm writing this updated review - because I really do love all the wonderful parts about LACMA, and there are many.  It's like a beautiful, gorgeous model with a gnarly unibrow.  Someone give that girl some wax, and you'll be perfect.  So, LACMA, wax off your unibrow, for the love of all that is good in the world.

As you scroll through the many lovely pictures of LACMA and its contents, you may notice some of mine.  I like to call them the "dark side" of LACMA.  The first time I visited, I was so enthralled and enamored with all the art, I was able to ignore the little unfinished things.  This time, my eye constantly went to the gross stuff, for whatever reason.  First, practically all the employees I encountered inside were super unfriendly - just dry and unsociable not very pleasant.  But I've already been over that in my last review.  This time, it's these little EASY fixes that LACMA could probably take care of in 1 day with 1 or 2 employees that apparently they're choosing to ignore.  It makes me mad.  I've been to museums in Europe (like the glorious British Museum), and let me just say that LACMA needs to raise their bar.  Yes, we're not Europe, and that's why we have to keep things even MORE pristine.

I love the Japanese Pavilion, but there is so much crap on that balcony that it's completely distracting.  Why have a bunch of cheap folding tables and a disgusting open panini press in PLAIN VIEW?  WHY?  Throw it out.  Put it in a closet.  Give it to Goodwill.  JUST GET RID OF IT, I don't want to see it along with 15th century art.  It takes away from the experience, and I'm sure that I'm not the only on who's noticed.  LACMA Cafe's exterior is also full of junk.  WHY?  Move the wooden crate thing that's clearly been there forever.  Toss it.  Are you really going to use it?  The trash receptacle is grossly rusted and dirty.  I have literally never encountered a trash can like that, even at the Mcdonald's in Downtown LA where homeless people are peeing in the corner.  Sad.  It's really disappointing to come across little, easily fixable things that the museum staff choose to ignore.  It's really sad.  It's sad because I love LACMA, but I feel that the exterior is being somewhat neglected.  It's not just the art, it's the entire experience, and these little, virtually free fixes are just not being taken care of.  What a bummer.

• 

  Can crapola not be moved out of public view? This at LACMA Cafe.

  Can crapola not be moved out of public view? This at LACMA Cafe.
• 

  Better trash receptacles at any Mcdonalds in the country. Gross.

  Better trash receptacles at any Mcdonalds in the country. Gross.
• 

  A filthy panini press in plain view outside.

  A filthy panini press in plain view outside.
• See all photos from Em H. for Los Angeles County Museum of Art

1/14/2015

We went to the LACMA.  They have the Samurai: Japanese Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier Exhibit and also German Expressionist Films Exhibit.  Both were great.  The Samurai Armor collection didn't look this good in the museum in Tokyo.  A really great collection.  The people who own the collection interestingly do not own it for the reason most collectors collect this armor.  If you want to find out why, and a lot more, take the tour.  It's worth it.

The Haunted Screens: German Cinema in the 1920s exhibit, has the classic films playing on different walls, but also has original production artwork for some of the films.  I have already gone back twice to see this exhibit.

We decided to get the membership tickets as they have had many exciting shows and events the past year and have many more slated for the new year.

3/22/2014

This is my new favorite place in the whole wide world. My spur of the moment decision to bring my boyfriend here was was worth the LA traffic and 3 hour commute from San Diego. I've heard of this place by word of mouth and by all the pictures I see online of the famous lamps out front. I had no idea the LACMA was this big or was going to be so entertaining.

Pros: for how big this place is and what it has to offer, what cost us the most on our visit here was at the C+M Cafe.

Admission w/ student id's: $10 a person
(Admission is free for LA residents)

Parking in their parking garage $10

Tons of photo ops

You don't have to be some bourgeoisie art snob to appreciate the art work here, this place really has something for everyone even your tiny humans. It was crazy standing in front of a real life Picasso, Diego Rivera and Andy Warhol paintings. If you want to thoroughly check out everything you can easily spend the day here.

Only con I have: the staff here. There is one leaning up against a wall on each room, watching you like a vulture. (I get why, there's a Picasso on the wall)
All are 50+ and we encountered quite a few rude employees while roaming around. Now, how the hell was I suppose to know I can and can't talk pictures in certain galleries? I see people all over taking pictures of the art work on the wall and the second I take a picture of a Picasso (there were no signs anywhere saying "no photography") I get barked at by a employee.

"I'm standing right here, you cannot do that, that is not allowed!" Loudly in the quiet gallery.

Maybe it was common sense  that I lacked that day, that your not suppose to do that on such a high profile painting but you could have been more polite about it. I didn't even snap the picture I just took out my
Phone.

Second encounter came when I was trying to find the Diego Rivera painting I eagerly wanted to see. We were confused on how
To get into a certain building. Once we found it and entered we were quickly
Approached and told we could not enter this side of the building and given mumbled instructions on how to get around to the proper entrance. Confused and lost we try going up stairs we find and again are barked at by a museum employee who came out or no where about how we can't go up the stairs. Is anyone going to show us? Or is it their job description to just yell at people? Finally we found the elevator we were being "directed" to on our own after 3 attempts. It all rubbed me the wrong way, employees are not helpful or polite at all.

Aside from all that it was a great trip and experience! I wish we had more time because we didn't see everything they had to offer.

• 
• 
• 
• See all photos from Gabriela V. for Los Angeles County Museum of Art

2/6/2015

Visited here in July. We enjoyed the views and the exhibits. Due to the popularity & limited parking spaces prepare to park on the road leading to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and walk up.

3/6/2014

I came too late to go inside but the outside was free so WINNING!!!! I've always wanted to see the Urban Lights posts from the movie No Strings Attached with Ashton Kutcher. I can cross that off my bucket list now! yay!!!! Urban Lights was outside anyway and that's all I really wanted to see. So glad I got a chance to do that!

Come at night is a must. All the posts will be lighted and it's so nice to take pictures with. Very romantic if you want to take your date here.

6/13/2014

Fabulous. I loved the Soccer exhibition . I went late. ( an hour before close) so I didnt get to see it all.

I wanted to try the restaurant there but it had closed already.

Overall it was a good hour spent at this must see museum .

• 

  Funny looking fellow

  Funny looking fellow
• 
• 
• See all photos from Jessica D. for Los Angeles County Museum of Art

2/4/2015

The Samurai exhibit is awesome, but I can only give the museum two stars because this was supposedly the free admission day and my group and I had to pay the full price of $25. to see the special exhibit. We had been lead to believe that there would be a $10. discount for the exhibit admission. This was really unfair.

2/5/2015

The walk up to the observatory was gorgeous and a good work out, and the panoramic view of the city was gorgeous. You have a nice clear view of Los Angeles, and all the surrounding city scape including a great view of the Hollywood sign. This place is especially beautiful during the evening.

1/7/2015

We stopped at the Getty on our way out of Los Angeles. We planned on 2-3 hours, which is about what we took, knowing our physical and info-overload limitations.

10/21/2014

Bottom Line:  A great collection housed in a huge complex, but pretty expensive and lacking in certain types of art.

My partner and I had a great time at the LACMA.  We toured the entire museum complex (which adjoins the La Brea Tar Pits).  The museum has a phenomenal collection of classical art, a pretty good collection of primitive art, a decent collection of modern art, and a nearly empty building of contemporary art.

The highlight of the visit, bar none, was a light exhibit by James Turrell.  It was phenomenal and like no other interactive art exhibit I'd ever experienced.  If you can see it while this exhibit is there, it is a must visit.

We did have a bad experience with some rowdy teenagers that were harassing patrons.  Even after informing the staff, they did nothing about it.

10/21/2014 Updated review

I went to the OPENING Day (for the public) of the exhibit of the HOLLYWOOD COSTUME and I must say, once I figured out how to get inside, it was a
wonderful, unique, totally LA exhibit.  I assume that by now they have
arrows telling you where to enter, etc, and that the whole view is not marred
by some glitch in getting inside.  It's really a great exhibit .  I later went
over to the Kimono Exhibit and then the German film exhibition, which
are first rate-and these were not crowded so I had a grand time walking
around.  I don't know why I do not find going to Museums in LA as
'stimulating' or 'satisfying' as I do when in NYC, but LACMA has a great
understanding of 'HOLLYWOOD" and if its costumes, or Diane Von Fustenberg,
you can't do any better.

1/3/2015

My family & I always dig coming down here for various exhibitions as well as the permanent ones. Definitely on the 'Must-Do' list if you're not from LA.

12/7/2014

Beautiful museum brought my cousin here to paint at boone children's we had an awesome time to bad we missed the 2pm story time, had no idea it was in the korean museum instead of the children's, oh well well go next time ! I got all my little cousins free membership here will be going again sometime

10/24/2013

Came for the rock.  Was not disappointed.

I was obsessed when it was traveling through Long Beach and the surrounding areas.  I have a bazillion pictures of it loaded on the truck.  Why does a rock interest me?  Well, I tell myself that I would have become a geology major in college if I could have passed physics, but that was NOT about to happen.

As Levitated Mass, it's funny to watch people stand under it, pretending to hold it up as people photograph them.  I don't know if that was the intention of the exhibit, but if it brings people to LACMA to experience it, good enough.  

We were there in the late afternoon so the sunlight on the western face brought out some amazing colorations.  Depending on where you stand, you can experience linear proportions from the concrete or the palm trees. The rock can look as though it's pointing west.  

Very cool thing to do in EL-LAY.

• 

  Linear trees and concrete intersect with the rock

  Linear trees and concrete intersect with the rock
• 

  October late afternoon 2013

  October late afternoon 2013
• 

  In Long Beach March 7, 2013

  In Long Beach March 7, 2013

3/23/2014

Such a lovely museum! I very much enjoyed my experience here.

If you can't find street parking, you can park in the lot across the museum (S Spaulding Ave + Wilshire Blvd) or underneath the museum (entrance on 6th St). It's a $10 charge which you can prepay at the museum's ticket counter. If you arrive after 7pm, parking is free!

There are a few places to get food in the museum, but they are pretty pricey. The main restaurant, located in the center of LACMA is open air, with a view of Urban Lights + lots of opportunities for people watching! They serve alcohol as well. Several food trucks park across the museum on Wilshire Blvd if you're looking for more variety/cheaper options.

General admission is $15. Seniors + college students are $10. High School Students/ 17 & younger accompanied by at least one adult are free. Second Tuesdays of the month is free admission for everyone, although I would think it would probably be way too crowded.

//

Most of the art in LACMA are grouped in a way where each building houses art of similar style.
Here are the ones I check out and enjoyed:

- Pavilion for Japanese Art - Use your library voice in here. Most of the spectators view the exhibit quietly. Great Japanese printed screens. Layout is awesome. They have samurai swords in here as well.

- Ahmanson Building - My favorite building! So much incredible art housed in here. They have Picasso pieces! And the infamous Campbell Soup painting by Warhol. Also, a Rothko piece which I very much enjoyed sitting across from for a few minutes :]

- Broad Contemporary Art Museum - Futbol exhibit! So cool. Check out Metropolis II on the first floor- especially if you have kids with you.

- Resnick Pavillion - great photography exhibit on the first floor

- Wilshire May Company Building (adjacent to LACMA) - holds the DVF "Journey of A Dress" fashion exhibit. Worth checking out! Great photo ops here for the ladies!

//

Don't be afraid to ask the museum attendants for help or any additional info. I was about to leave the BCAM building, when I stopped to ask an attendant named Cecil where "Levitated Mass" was located. He told me I needed to get back inside the building because they were about to start up Metropolis II (the mini city sculpture w/ miniature cars - they turn it on every other half hour!). As I exited again, Cecil told me to stop by the DVF "Journey of a Dress" fashion exhibit before I check out "Levitated Mass," which he told me was located at the back end of the museum. -- The attendants know the ins & outs of the museum, they're a great source of information compared to the pamphlets you get at the counter. Utilize them!

Time-wise, you definitely need to get here before noon if you want ample time to check out the entire museum. Photography is allowed for the permanent collections only - as long as there's no flash. Food & drinks (even bottled ones) inside the exhibits are a big no no - the security guards WILL call you out!

The famous tar pits are to the right of the museum in case you wanted to check that out.

I visited LACMA on a Sunday... it was crowded, but not to the point where I couldn't enjoy myself. Definitely worth dedicating an entire day to this museum!

• 

  Urban Lights

  Urban Lights

9/15/2013

Came just for the lamp posts.

Amazing at night - so romantic. Use about 25 cents or 50 cents just to park on the side with meters and walk across the street to the lamp posts.

Great place to take pictures. Lots of people so you can ask for a photo to be taken of you and your friends, couple or family.

Absolutely astonishing and romantic! Definite must see.

• 

  So worth parking on the side for! Lamp posts around 7:30 pm.

  So worth parking on the side for! Lamp posts around 7:30 pm.

2/21/2014

Four stars just for the street light exhibit! I love that thing!
They have traveling exhibits, and some very interesting stuff pops up.

You DO have to like modern/contemporary art, don't bring someone who doesn't appreciate it with you, because they will have a bad time

12/27/2013

Free General Admission for:
-For all paid members
-For kids 17 and under, plus one accompanying adult, through NexGen membership
-After 3 pm for LA county residents* Mon-Fri ONLY
-On the second Tuesday of each month

Presidents Day--Monday, February 17, 2014
Memorial Day--Monday, May 26, 2014

*Either your ID has to have its address in the LA county, or you can bring a utility bill in your name that's addressed to your place in the LA county (For those in town for college or have yet to update their ID).

Monday                 11 am-5 pm
Tuesday                11 am-5 pm
Wednesday           Closed
Thursday               11 am-5 pm
Friday                    11 am-8 pm
Saturday                10 am-7 pm
Sunday                  10 am-7 pm

Parking:
Self-park: Parking is located at the Pritzker Parking Garage on Sixth St, just east of Fairfax Ave, and on the corner of Wilshire Blvd at Spaulding Ave. The $10 charge may be prepaid at the ticket office. Parking is free after 7 pm entry.

Valet: Available Fri-Sun, 11 am-4 pm, on Wilshire Blvd in front of the Urban Light sculpture. $15

Or you can find free 2 hr street parking till 6pm around LACMA.
BE SURE TO CHECK signs as some require permit only and you cannot park their till after 6pm.

Meter parking was $1 an hour when I last checked.

2/1/2014

There are nine buildings.  I spent half a day here and had to pick and choose what to see.
Buy tickets for special exhibits online in advance. They were sold out 3 days in advance for the Turrell exhibit and the only way to get tickets if they are sold out is to buy a membership.
The Breathing Light installation in the Turrell exhibit is pretty amazing.  You are consumed by light below above and around you.  You wait in line, they let 8 people in at a time.  You have to remove your shoes and put these scrub like booties on.  No pictures and quiet voices.  

They have a wide variety of art spanning different periods, styles and regions so there is something for everyone.  The art is world class.  My only complaint is the rudeness of the staff.  I've been to museums all over the world and I've never felt so not welcomed by the people working there.  From the ticket window, to the catalogue room, to the security guards, we were constantly treated like they were irritated by our presence.  I asked how often the Metropolis exhibit ran and was given a snippy, you can read and find the answer yourself in the brochure.  Go for the art and if you're treated rudely, don't worry you're not being discriminated against, they are equally mean to everyone. (I'm sure there must be a few nice people that work there, but we didn't run into any of them on our visit).  

Highlights:
Building 5, 2nd floor-Picasso, Magritte, Matisse, Pollock, etc.
Building 4, children's gallery- watercolor your own masterpiece (good for kids and adults)
Building 7, 1st floor-Metropolis
Building 8, Calder, Turrell, photography and Hockney
Urban light outside of building 7

10/14/2014

Great experience! Definitely a place where you can spend the whole day exploring. Lots of things to see and do so leave ample time for each building.

However, BEWARE of getting double charged at the front ticket desk if you bought your tickets ahead of time on the mobile app. Make sure you tell them you already have purchased your tickets and to not charge you again. I've been waiting about 3 weeks for my refund on my double charge and their customer service representative told me to "be patient" when I called to check on the status. Just a heads up for everyone!

9/20/2014

I came here with my friend after stopping by MILK. We were short on time, so we didn't go into the museum, but we had just as much fun walking around outside. There's actually quite a bit to see outside of the museum, and would probably be a good place for a walk after a lunch/dinner date.

We mainly came here for the city lights display, but there was quite a few other displays to see :) I'm definitely planning to come back here to see the other exhibits, especially after seeing the other Yelpers' photos :)

Parking wasn't too bad, especially since we came on a late Sunday afternoon, so it was free. There's a lot across the street specifically for LACMA parking, so you can park there. Quite a few places to go eat nearby too.

12/19/2013

LACMA was the first museum I ever visited in LA, and after 4-5 visits over the last 15 years it's about time that I write a review. I've been here for Friday night jazz in the courtyard, a Tuesday matinee of Casablanca in the Bing Theater, and a smattering of special exhibits that come through. For about 8 months, lived on Wilshire & Masselin, although I can't remember logging an actual visit when I was literally steps away from the museum...pitiful.

Last night was a corporate associates event, which meant that the museum was open after-hours for members of the corporate program -- e.g. your employer donated a sh*t ton of money to the museum. As a recent hire of one such employer, I got to enjoy a small perk of the gift from Stewart & Lynda Resnick, which is the Resnick Pavilion where a lot of the special exhibits come through. The current exhibit, Calder & Abstraction, was a great way to expand my understanding of this artist and the wonderful, almost whimsical mobiles and sculptures he created. The pavilion itself is an airy, classy space that serves as an elegant backdrop to the works that it showcases.

The other permanent installments are just as engaging and thought-provoking. The Ahmanson Building hosts many of these collections, and the surrounding grounds provide a great area in which to wander around and enjoy the serenity.

As evidence of how long it's been since I've visited LACMA, the 'Urban Lights' grand entrance full of street lamps was new to me, and I hadn't realized that they closed Ogden Street to fuse LACMA and LACMA West together.

2/5/2014

Tip to those who aren't visiting for the whole day or intend to stop by for a short period of time: all the outside exhibits are free! Even the yellow noodle exhibit and the levitating mass. We had originally paid to stay at the museum for a short amount of time, and paid the $10 student ticket fee, but decided we didn't have enough time to see the entire exhibit.

We were able to get a refund! The cashier was so nice about it. We got a couple pictures with the outside exhibits and were out. I'm definitely returning to see the entire museum and featured exhibits though!

7/10/2013

I have actually been here several times, but this was the first time that I went inside to appreciate the art.

Location: We went on a Tuesday afternoon and the streets were not too busy. There was less traffic than expected and the museum was not overly crowded! Parking was easy in their underground lot and there was plenty of it to go around. The fee is $10. There is also a lot of meter parking around the area, but if you are going to stay long, I recommend finding another lot close by or just paying for parking.

Ambiance: Different. We went in the Ahmanson Building first and it was very extensive. I won't say too much about the galleries because I want to leave you to get your own impressions. I also don't go to art museums often. Although, my favorite gallery was the Japanese art exhibit where you could see  an extensive collection of art by Hokusai. If you go to the Korean art exhibit, you can make your own Korean brush art! Cool. There were a lot of other popular pieces, especially in the pop art section. Finally got to see some of Pablo Picasso's paintings up close! Outside you can see the levitated mass and go to the park and visit the La Brea Tar Pits.

Overall, it was a good day. On the second Tuesday of each month they have the museum open free to the public! It's also free after 3pm to LA county residents.

• 
• 
• 
• See all photos from Berna T. for Los Angeles County Museum of Art

1/25/2014

They have a bunch of stuff to keep a person occupied for the day... From Asian and European art, to dinosaur bones.. this place is definitely worth checking out. Parking is a dread though. I came on a Saturday and both of their parking lots were full. It took us roughly 45 minutes to find metered parking.

Be sure to try the food trucks across the street! There were 15+ food trucks there serving up mean looking entrees.

2/22/2014

Use your Fringe Benefits card for $3.75 off $15 general admission.
$10 for underground parking.
Picnicked on the lawn (used solo cups to be "non discrete" about the wine).
Was there on a Tuesday 12-5 and it wasn't too crowded.
Awesome time.

• 

  He-he, they said "Pole Ceremony"

  He-he, they said "Pole Ceremony"

12/28/2013

What a great place to check out art.  I enjoyed the park with the tar pits and all 4 floors of art on display.

I was lucky to get some metered parking on 6th and that allowed the stroll through the park.  
When I went to pay for tickets I was greeted with free tickets if you are a Los Angeles County Resident.  I was not allowed to see 2 displays, but I was satisfied with the 4 floors.  If you want to see everything you will have to pay some cash.

This is a great place to checkout if you have not done so.  Why wouldn't you go check out free art?  I believe it is free after 3pm, but please check with the museum to make sure you get in free.  I went on a whim and was prepared to pay, luckily the ticket guy asked for my ID and I got in free :)

6/29/2013 Updated review

Visiting LACMA today was thrilling because of two exhibitions:  the James Turrell retrospective and the Peter Zumthor proposal for a new LACMA building.

James Turrell -- who has six concurrent exhibitions in the United States and one in Paris -- uses light to change your perception of what you think you are seeing.  Some works are lights focused in a corner; some are holograms where shafts of light appear to jump out from the surface; others are entire rooms where light plays with your depth perception.  

I was lucky enough to seize a ticket for the Perceptual Cell, a big round ball where I was laid flat inside on a cushioned table and treated to an intense light and sound show.  It's like an MRI machine if it were taken over by hippies.  My body was tense this morning but I felt relaxed after I was rolled out of the Perceptual Cell.

[No museum can contain James Turrell's biggest project that is not yet open to the public: Roden Crater.  This is on a scale of the great pyramids.  Check out jamesturrell.com for more information.  When this opens, the world will visit.]

Exiting the Turrell exhibition presents you with Peter Zumthor's exciting model for the new LACMA.  Detractors call it the black blob; supporters like me call it the black flower.  It obviously takes a cue from the nearby tar pits, but you have to see the model to understand the thought behind it.  The design is incredibly people-friendly.  It encourages passersby to visit because art will be visible from the street.  Another plus: solar panels will be installed on the roof to generate more energy than the museum will require.  Dramatic architecture is always controversial but Zumthor is one of the leading architects in the world.  If LACMA is going to take a chance, they picked the right person to execute it.

• 

  Food trucks across the street

  Food trucks across the street
• 

  Peter Zumthor's model for the new LACMA building

  Peter Zumthor's model for the new LACMA building
• 

  Peter Zumthor's model for the new LACMA building

  Peter Zumthor's model for the new LACMA building
• See all photos from Paul L. for Los Angeles County Museum of Art

3/13/2014

I was so lucky to enter the museum for FREE! On President's Day.  Target was paying for this perk.  We raced through as many of the different buildings as we could.  You seriously could spend the whole day here looking at art.  I found it to be a very wonderful place.  

Another LA thing on my list that I love to do.