LISTICLE: The 22 Best Art Museums (Los Angeles, CA)

LA Today
LA Today
Published in
6 min readJul 3, 2024
Cover for the Best Art Museums in Los Angeles, California featuring LACMA’s “Urban Lights” outdoor exhibit.

1. The Getty

📍 Location 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049

🌐 Website The Getty

💰 Price FREE

The Getty Center Museum, one of the most famous museums in Los Angeles, is renowned for its impressive collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, as well as its breathtaking architecture and gardens. Visitors can explore masterpieces by artists like Van Gogh, alongside stunning temporary exhibitions.

2. Los Angeles County Museum of Art

📍 Location 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

🌐 Website LACMA

💰 Price $$

The LACMA is the largest art museum in the western US, with a collection that spans over 6,000 years of art from around the world. There is an array of exhibitions ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary works. Among the many art museums in Los Angeles, LACMA stands out for its massive collection, architecture, and public programs.

3. The Broad

📍 Location 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

🌐 Website The Broad

💰 Price FREE

The Broad Museum is a contemporary art museum with a collection of over 2,000 works, featuring prominent artists such as Cindy Sherman. Known for its striking architecture, there are installations and rotating exhibitions that make it one of the best museums in LA. Highlights include Kusama’s “Infinity Mirrored Rooms” and Koons’ “Balloon Dog”.

4. Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art

📍 Location 250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

🌐 Website MOCA

💰 Price FREE

The MOCA is a top-tier art museum in Los Angeles, with contemporary artworks from the 1940s to the present. There are over 7,000 pieces with large-scale installations, thought-provoking exhibitions, and a public programs calendar.

5. The Getty Villa

📍 Location 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

🌐 Website The Getty Villa

💰 Price FREE

The Getty Villa has a classical interior and beautiful well-kept gardens. The Villa has a range of different art and artifacts such as statues, paintings, jewelry, and more, with a strong focus on ancient Greek and Roman art.

6. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

📍 Location 1717 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

🌐 Website ICALA

💰 Price FREE

The Institute of Contemporary Art in LA is a cultural museum in the Arts District of DTLA focused on contemporary art. It provides an inclusive space with rotating exhibitions for both well-known and underrepresented artists.

7. Hammer Museum UCLA

📍 Location 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

🌐 Website Hammer Museum UCLA

💰 Price FREE

The Hammer Museum at UCLA is known for its commitment to social justice. The museum has interesting installations, performances, and lectures. The Hammer’s collections feature historical works, contemporary art, and more.

8. Museum of Latin American Art

📍 Location 628 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

🌐 Website Museum of Latin American Art

💰 Price $

The MOLAA is one of the best museums in Los Angeles because of their art from the mid-20th century, with paintings, sculptures, and more. The only museum in the US that is focused on modern and contemporary Latin American art.

9. Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery

📍 Location 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

🌐 Website Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery

💰 Price FREE

LAMAG in Barnsdall Art Park showcases the work of artists from Southern California, making it one of the best museums in Los Angeles. LAMAG hosts exhibitions that explore different artistic practices and cultural perspectives.

10. MAK Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House

📍 Location 835 N Kings Rd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

🌐 Website MAK Center for Art and Architecture

💰 Price $

This museum is a cultural hub that intertwines contemporary art and architecture. Located in the home of renowned architect Rudolf Schindler, it hosts exhibitions, residencies, and public programs that explore modern living and design.

11. Mosaic Tile House

📍 Location 1116 Palms Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

🌐 Website Mosaic Tile House

💰 Price $

The Mosaic Tile House is an eclectic, vibrantly-decorated beach home by artists Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran. Covered in mosaic tiles, ceramics, and colorful designs, the house is an artistic statement that began in 1994.

12. Gagosian Beverly Hills

📍 Location 456 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

🌐 Website Gagosian Beverly Hills

💰 Price FREE

The Gagosian Gallery is a contemporary art gallery known for showcasing works by leading modern and contemporary artists. Founded by Larry Gagosian, the gallery offers spaces for exhibitions, artist collaborations, and art events.

13. The Hollywood Sculpture Garden

📍 Location 2430 Vasanta Way, Los Angeles, CA 90068

🌐 Website Hollywood Sculpture Garden

💰 Price FREE by appointment only

This museum has an outdoor collection of over 100 sculptures by local and international artists. Located in the Hollywood Hills up to the iconic Hollywood Sign, it offers visitors a tranquil environment to experience contemporary art.

14. Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles

📍 Location 901 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

🌐 Website Hauser & Wirth

💰 Price FREE

Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles offers exhibitions across various media, like painting, sculpture, and multimedia installations. It provides a dynamic space for cultural events, performances, and community engagement.

15. MASH Gallery

📍 Location 812 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

🌐 Website Mash Gallery

💰 Price FREE

MASH Gallery is a contemporary art gallery that showcases thematic exhibitions and brightly colored, modern pieces of art by local and international artists.

16. Vincent Price Art Museum

📍 Location 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754

🌐 Website Vincent Price Art Museum

💰 Price FREE

Located at East Los Angeles College, VPAM is a renowned institution that showcases Chicano and Latino art and features a collection of contemporary and historical artworks, emphasizing cultural identity and social justice themes.

17. Long Beach Museum of Art

📍 Location 2300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803

🌐 Website Long Beach Museum of Art

💰 Price $

The LBMA is located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with a unique collection of art including American and European paintings, decorative arts, and contemporary works, with a central focus on California artists.

18. Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum

📍 Location 919 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, California, 90015

🌐 Website FIDM Museum

💰 Price FREE

The FIDM Museum showcases different pieces of fashion over 400 years. With over 15,000 pieces of fashion history from all different times, visitors can expect to see film costumes, accessories, garments, textiles, jewelry, and more.

19. Museum of Neon Art

📍 Location 216 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204

🌐 Website Museum of Neon Art

💰 Price $

The Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, California, is a unique museum that celebrates the art and history of neon signs. Visitors can experience the vibrant world of neon through hands-on classes and learn more about its history.

20. Norton Simon Museum

📍 Location 411 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105

🌐 Website Norton Simon Museum

💰 Price $

The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California, has European and Asian art spanning over 2,000 years. Its peaceful gardens and rotating exhibitions complement the permanent collection.

21. The Huntington

📍 Location 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108

🌐 Website The Huntington

💰 Price $$

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a cultural institution with books, manuscripts, and European and American art. Its gardens have plant species, creating a blend of art, literature, and nature.

22. Japan House LA

📍 Location 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Level 2, Los Angeles, CA 90028

🌐 Website Japan House LA

💰 Price FREE

The Japan House in LA showcases the best of the best upcoming and new Japanese art, design, gastronomy, technology, and more. It includes many features such as an exhibition gallery, event rooms, and views of Los Angeles.

Originally published within the LA Today article:

70 Best Museums and Art Experiences in Los Angeles

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