Every time we make a stop in Los Angeles we are literally overwhelmed by the countless attractions and possibilities offered by the City of Angels. If, amidst the Studios and the mile-long beaches, you find time to include a cultural stop, LACMA is definitely one of the first choices to consider.
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What is LACMA?
LACMA is an acronym that stands for Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is the largest museum in the Western United States, as it houses more than 150,000 works ranging from Greek and Roman art to contemporary art.
Urban Light
Surely this is the museum’s most famous and most photographed installation. Created by artist Chris Burden, the work consists of 202 lampposts dating from the years between 1920 and 1930, standing together in a fairly confined area so as to give the impression of looking at a maze of lights.
If you don’t want to visit the museum you can still observe this installation as it was created outside LACMA and the best time to do so, as you might imagine, is in the evening when all the streetlights are turned on.
Levitated Mass
Like the Urban Light, this installation also attracts many curious people who want to be immortalized in an unusual photo. It is a work by Michael Heizer who has placed a huge stone boulder weighing more than 300 tons on top of a walkway. Visitors can then pass underneath the giant stone standing on supports that, due to their small size, help give the perception that the boulder is magically suspended.
Directions
The museum is located in the Miracle Mile neighborhood, along what is known as Museum Row: the exact address is 5905 Wilshire Blvd.
If you want to travel to the museum by car, LACMA’s parking lot is located inside the Pritzker Parking Garage on 6th St. It is not free and the $16 fee is fixed, regardless of how long you park for.
If you want to go to the museum using public transportation, at the time we are writing this article, the subway does not yet reach this area of the city, although expansion work is underway. Therefore, the nearest stops to the museum are:
- The Cienega/Jefferson stop on the E line, which is about 3 miles south of the museum. From here you can take the 217 bus towards Fairfax Ave.
- The Wilshire/Western stop on the D line which is about 3 miles east of the museum. From here you can take bus 20 and 720 in the direction of Wilshire Blvd.
You will then have to rely on the bus routes specifically:
- Lines 20 and 720 that stop on Wilshire Blvd.
- Lines 217, 218 and 780 that stop on Fairfax Ave.
For more information on getting around the city, please read our article on getting around Los Angeles.
LACMA Tickets and Hours
Tickets can be purchased online or at the museum entrance. They cost $25 for adults, $10 for children between 13 and 17, and are free up to age 12. If you want to save on ticket costs, admission is free on the second Tuesday of each month.
To check if guided tours are available at the museum, you can click on the link below:
The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The only closing day is Wednesday.
LACMA Collection and Things to Do
Given the huge number of works, and the size of the museum itself, which spans several buildings (some designed by Renzo Piano), it is very difficult to describe all that awaits you in a few lines. You will find entire sections devoted to American, Latin American, and Asian art as well as exhibits dating back to ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan times.
Of particular importance is the collection of modern and contemporary art, where you will see works by Magritte, Picasso, Degas, Kandinsky, Tiziano, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Cézanne.
One of the most curious and spectacular installations is definitely Metropolis II created by artist Chris Burden. It is a kinetic artwork that reproduces to scale the life and hustle and bustle of a big city. When it is active you can enjoy watching more than a thousand vehicles animate the streets of this congested miniature metropolis (the work is activated only at certain times, so please check the official website for updated times).
One last experience to try is to climb to the top floor of the main building from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area and, in the distance, even catch a glimpse of the legendary Hollywood sign.
If during your West Coast itinerary you feel like including a cultural stop as well, surely this is an opportunity not to be missed. The vast collection and large number of temporary exhibitions will satisfy everyone’s needs. Keep an eye on the calendar of events on the official website to see if there is anything that might interest you during your visit to Los Angeles.
Where to Stay in the Area
As mentioned, LACMA is located in the neighborhood of Miracle Mile which, however, does not have a large range of accommodations to offer. If you want to know what are the best neighborhoods to stay in the city, even from a strategic point of view, you can click on the link below to find our recommendations.
