With its diverse collection of museums, Los Angeles has grown into one of the world’s great cities for art lovers. From the dramatically modern Getty Center high above West L.A. to The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, housed in a onetime police warehouse in downtown’s Little Tokyo, the city offers a unique assortment of places and ways to view unforgettable works.
Start with locations made possible by philanthropist J. Paul Getty, who created two remarkable—and free to the public—museums that are art pieces in themselves (one only has to pay for parking). At the Getty Center, snow-white travertine buildings designed by famed architect Richard Meier display works that range from medieval-era illuminated manuscripts to photographic masterpieces. The lush gardens descending adjacent hills offer some of the best views in L.A. In Pacific Palisades, just east of Malibu, Getty created another gem, the Getty Villa, a recreation of an ancient Roman country house showcasing a world-renowned collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities.
Head to Downtown L.A., where The Broad houses a stunning collection of contemporary art. Then explore Wilshire Boulevard, where LACMA (the popular acronym for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art) is a sprawling complex displaying everything from pre-Columbian works to modern masterpieces. Snap a shot of Chris Burden’s Urban Light, an outdoor assemblage of 202 vintage L.A. street lamps that has become one of the city’s most photographed sites, and walk under Michael Helzer’s Levitated Mass, a 340-ton granite boulder that’s dizzyingly suspended above an outdoor walkway.
Rancho Dominguez, just south of Compton, is home to the original 1826 adobe home of the Dominguez family that now houses the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum. Visitors can learn about the transformation of California from its Spanish and Mexican roots to its incorporation into the United States, and the role the Dominguez family played in the early Rancho Era in California (1784–1846). Multiple free tours are conducted every Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, and the first Thursday and Friday of every month, and the Rose Garden, the Cactus Garden, and the orchards are accessible to all.
UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) is another treasure trove of museums. Visit The Hammer for a remarkable collection of envelope-pushing art. The Fowler has a globally significant collection of historic and contemporary works from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas.
For an adventure that is custom-designed to be Instagram gold, visit the Museum of Illusions, where guests are not passive observers but instead become fully involved with the 3-D works of art. Inspired by current events, movies, and other streams of pop culture, the simulated experiences include stealing treasure from bloodthirsty dragons, walking on the edge of a skyscraper, and other heart-stopping endeavors.
Not to be overlooked—though technically not within the city of L.A.—is Pasadena’s Kidspace Children’s Museum. Kids ages 1–10 can climb, splash, peer into, and gaze upon more than 40 hands-on, indoor, and outdoor exhibits spread out over the museum’s 3.5-acre campus. Another worthwhile museum, located about 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in Pomona, is the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Visitors here can explore a wide range of ceramic art, from historic pottery to contemporary sculptures. You'll see exhibitions featuring international and local artists, educational programs, hands-on workshops, and a comprehensive library on ceramic art and history. On monthly first Fridays, take advantage of the pay-what-you-can admission.
Insider tip: Many of Los Angeles’ museums are free to the public, or have a free-admission policy one day a week. Check their sites before you go.
