Art Museums in Los Angeles – Visiting the Best LA Art Museums

Los Angeles is a city that is full of creativity and life, thus it is no wonder that millions of tourists flock there each year. Many come to see the sights of Hollywood; however, art lovers will know that LA is home to some of the best art museums in the country. So, if you are fortunate enough to be visiting the area, be sure to add some of the galleries below to your itinerary.

Must-See Art Museums in Los Angeles

If you live in Los Angeles or plan to visit there in the future, here is a guide to some of the most interesting art museums in the area. There is a wide variety to choose from which encompasses something for everyone regardless of your artistic interests.

Autry Museum of the American West

The Autry Museum of the American West gives visitors a glimpse into what life was like back in the wild West. It was founded by famous Country and Western singer Gene Autry in 1988. The Autry focuses on Native American artworks and artifacts and has around 500,000 in its collection, making it the second largest collection of Native American art in the US.

In 2021, it was voted “Favorite Museum” by a survey conducted by the Los Angeles Daily News.

Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles, California; Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bhagavad-gita Diorama-Museum

The Bhagavad-gita Diorama-Museum is unlike any other museum in LA. It was established in 1977 by the International Society of Krishna Consciousness as a tool for educating the public about Indian theology. It features 11 sculptures created by Hare Krishna monks using ancient techniques and materials such as clay, bamboo, and rice husk. These sculptures have been combined with robotics to animate them as part of an interactive experience that teaches audiences about reincarnation.

One leaves the Bhagavad-gita Diorama-Museum feeling more educated and in awe of the incredible craftsmanship of the dioramas.

Changing Bodies diorama from the Bhagavad-gita Museum in Los Angeles, California; ISKCON Los Angeles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

California African American Museum

The California African American Museum (CAAM) is an LA treasure and one of the largest museums specifically dedicated to African American art in the world. It was finally opened to the public in 2016 after 13 years of trying to get the project approved.

CAAM exhibits the artworks of African Americans starting from their arrival in the US as slaves all the way up until the current day. It is now also a platform to promote up-and-coming black artists.

Entrance to the California African American Museum and the Wishing on a Star sculpture by Charles Dickson in Los Angeles, California; Jllm06, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Corita Art Center

The Corita Art Center is one of the smaller art museums in Los Angeles, however, it is one that makes a large impact on the viewer. The gallery is dedicated to Sister Mary Corita a nun of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who became a famous Pop artist in the 1960s. Sister Mary Corita used her artistic talents to speak out against pertinent issues such as racism and inequality.

The Corita Art Center has an impressive collection of around 30,000 drawings, paintings, and writings belonging to the artist.

David Kordansky Gallery

The David Kordansky Gallery was opened by renowned art dealer David Kordansky in 2003. The gallery spans a whole block and is spread across three separate buildings designed by famous architect Kulapat Yantrasast.

Its minimalist design makes it the perfect canvas for displaying the contemporary artworks within.

In 2020, the David Kordansky Gallery opened an exhibition of the artist Linda Stark, which showcased her Hearts series, an exploration of the symbolism and anatomy of the human heart. Visits are by appointment only and are timed, otherwise, one can also view the works of the gallery via a virtual visit.

Flutter Experience

The Flutter Experience was founded by Mehul Nariyawala and Navreet Dalal in 2010. It is an artistic experience unlike any other, as one feels as though they are immersed in the artwork. The gallery has 14 rooms each dedicated to an installation that has been created by artists from all over the world.

The installations incorporate all of the senses through accompanying videos and music, allowing audiences to feel fully enveloped by the art.

It is worth noting that there are no flashing lights in the displays in order to make them safe for visitors suffering from epilepsy. The Flutter Experience has also partnered with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation to create an installation that focuses on mental illness awareness.

Getty Center

The Getty Center is not only one of the best LA art museums, it has been noted as one of the best in the world. Getty Center shares its premises with the Getty Research Institute and Getty Conservation Institute. It was founded by the J. Paul Getty Trust in 1997.

It is currently one of the wealthiest art institutions in the world with an estimated value of $7,7 billion.

The Getty Center has within its collection primarily European artworks, which include paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Édouard Manet, and Rembrandt. However, it is not simply art that one can look at Getty Center. It has world-class gardens, which overlook the City of Angels. After browsing the artwork, many visitors choose to picnic in the gardens and enjoy the scenery.

Entrance to the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California; Thaddeus Zajdowicz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hammer Museum

The Hammer Museum is one of the top five art museums in LA. It was founded in 1990 by Armand Hammer to house his personal collection of American and European artworks. The museum’s permanent collection boasts over 200 artworks with the likes of French masters such as Honoré Daumier, Paul Gaugin, and Henri Matisse.

The Hammer Museum also works in connection with UCLA, which is just a short distance away. The two organize Hammer Projects, which are temporary exhibitions meant to showcase the talent of local LA artists.

Be sure to check their exhibition schedule and try to align your visit with one of these exciting displays!

Hammer Museum at the intersection of Westwood Blvd. and Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood, Los Angeles, California; King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles

The Hauser & Wirth gallery in Los Angeles opened in 2016 and is one of 16 of its kind worldwide. It showcases a variety of contemporary artists, from those who are just breaking into the art world to those who are well-established within it. In 2021, the Hauser & Wirth art gallery was voted “Best Gallery in LA” by Timeout LA.

Set within an old flour mill, the venue of Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles makes for a unique art viewing experience.

Japanese American National Museum

The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) is not simply a LA art museum, it is also an education about the trials and tribulations of Japanese immigrants in America. It was founded in 1992 by Bruce T. Kaji and is one of the largest collections of Japanese American artworks in the world.

JANM documents the journey from the first Japanese immigrants who arrived on American soil in 1882 until the current day through art, which is an expression of the soul. One of the largest series in the museum is a collection of artworks created by Japanese Americans who were placed in US containment camps during World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

This is a portion of history that is rarely spoken about and thus, it is so important to understand the lasting impact it has made upon the Japanese American community.

Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo of Downtown Los Angeles, California; Justefrain, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes

La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes (or La Plaza, as the locals know it) can be found in what is known as “the birthplace of Los Angeles” in the oldest part of the city. Its primary focus is on Mexican American or “Chicano” art and is the first museum in the US to do so. It has a sculpture garden that emulates the arduous journey many illegal immigrants had to face to get to the US.

One of the most poignant artifacts on display in the museum is a piece of the Berlin Wall that was given to them by Germany. It is a warning to the people of the US about the dangers of building walls to restrict people’s movement.

Los Angeles Center for Digital Art

The Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (LACDA) is one of the most forward-thinking art museums in Los Angeles. It is run by hands-on owner Bruce Rex and opened its doors to the public in 2004. The mission of LACDA is to showcase the fusion of art and technology that is becoming increasingly popular.

It exhibits works of digital sculpture and artistic film and photography. Exhibitions of new local talent are held frequently, so keep your eye on their website!

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is one of the most prominent art museums in Los Angeles. Whilst it was established in 1961 it moved to its current location in 1965 and has been there ever since. LACMA is a nonprofit organization that is owned by Museum Associates.

LACMA has an extensive collection of approximately 150,000 artworks.

These are spread over five buildings, which were designed by internationally famous architect Renzo Piano. Each building has its own specific exhibitions including American artworks, Latin American and Pre-Colombian artworks and artifacts, Eastern and ancient artworks, Japanese art and ceramics, and finally contemporary art. Its installation by artist Chris Burden called Urban Light (2008) is a must-see.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, California; Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

The Museum of Contemporary Art (or MOCA, as it’s known by locals) is one of the LA art museums that you do not want to miss. It was founded in 1979 by artist Charles Cohen. Since then, its collection has grown to an impressive 7,500 works of contemporary art, which includes paintings and sculptures as well as installations.

MOCA is typically free to the public, which makes it the perfect destination for art lovers on a budget. However, if you have the funds, be sure to check out their list of events, which includes exclusive exhibitions by local artists on the rise.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in downtown Los Angeles, California; Minnaert, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum of Latin American Art

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in 1996 by philanthropist and art collector Robert Gumbiner. It has an extensive collection of artworks from artists from every Latin American country. Given the amount of talent from these countries, it is not surprising that there are around 1,300 artworks in their collection.

MOLAA is also known for the temporary exhibitions that they host regularly, in which they display contemporary Latin American artists’ work.

The outside of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, Los Angeles, California; nsputnik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Norton Simon Museum

The Norton Simon Museum is one of the most famous art museums in Los Angeles. In 1995, art collector Norton Simon joined his personal collection of approximately 8,000 artworks with that of the Pasadena Art Museum. Simon’s collection (which was far larger than that of the Pasadena Art Museum) was predominantly old European artworksm whilst the Pasadena Art Museum’s was contemporary. As a result, MOCA was built in order to have an art museum in LA dedicated to contemporary art.

The museum was designed by famous architect Frank Gehry and now includes a beautiful zen garden filled with statues imported from Asia. Amongst these statues, exotic plants can be found, making the Norton Simon Museum the perfect outing for art lovers and botanists alike.

The Norton Simon Museum, a private art museum in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Spring Arts Tower

The Spring Arts Tower houses not one but multiple galleries under its roof. The building was built in 1915 and was originally a public bank. However, in 2009 it was transformed into what has become one of the largest museums of contemporary art in Los Angeles.

In fact, what was once the epicenter of business in LA has now been dubbed “Gallery Row” due to all of the galleries in the area.

The Spring Arts Tower is also the headquarters of the Spring Arts Collective, a group of five artists (Andrea Bogdan, Jena Priebe, David Lovejoy, Liz Huton, and Robin McGeough) who organize exhibitions of contemporary art. With a focus on local art, there are around 100 artists in the area who exhibit their works at the Spring Arts Tower.

The Broad

The Broad is considered by many to be one of the best LA art museums. It was founded by Eli and Edythe Broad in 2015 to showcase its collection of over 2,000 artworks. Most of the artworks one can see here come from the mid- 1900s, however, there are a number of more modern works in the collection.

One of these is Yayoi Kusama’s famous mirror installations, for which many travel far and wide to witness in person.

The Broad Museum in Los Angeles, California; Kerstin Bednarek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Huntington Library

The Huntington Library was once the picturesque manor of Henry E. Huntington. It was opened to the public in 1928, just one year after Huntington had passed. The beautiful architecture of the Gilded Age is accompanied by breathtaking Japanese-style gardens. The Huntington Library has an impressive collection of over 1,200 artworks from Europe and the U.S, which can be seen decorating the manor.

Other than art, the Huntington Library also has a collection of rare books, including parts of the Gutenberg Bible.

The former Huntington Mansion, designed by Myron Hunt, and present-day art gallery building — at the Huntington Library in San Marino, Los Angeles, California; Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Velveteria – The Museum of Velvet Paintings

Velveteria was originally situated in Portland, Oregon. However, its Californian owners Carl Baldwin and Caren Anderson moved it to LA in 2013. Velveteria is a quirky little gallery, with over 3,000 velvet paintings in its collection. Velvet painting is when artists replace their typical white canvases with a sheet of black velvet, which gives the painting a distinct texture and depth.

Stop by Velveteria to see velvet paintings of musical legends such as David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley.

As is clear from the list above, Los Angeles has a lot to offer for artists and art enthusiasts alike. This list covered 20 of the best LA art museums, however, that does not mean that this is all of what is in the area. Be sure to do some of your own research to find out about what pop-up exhibitions are happening during your time in LA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Biggest Art Gallery in LA?

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in LA. It has such an extensive collection that LACMA is actually made up of five buildings on the same property. Each building is dedicated to art from a specific continent or time period, for example, Latin American and pre-Colombian, and so on.

How Many Art Galleries Are There in LA?

There are around 93 art museums in Los Angeles that one can visit. The list in the article above shows 20 of them, however, if you have the time to see more make sure to do some research of your own. Pop-up or temporary art galleries are also becoming increasingly popular in LA so make sure to keep an eye out for those too.

Is LA a Good Place for Artists?

California and LA in particular have one of the largest artist communities in the U.S. LA is a melting pot of people from all over the world, which makes it the perfect place to seek inspiration from a variety of cultures and subcultures. It is also a very good city for up-and-coming artists to network and try to gain popularity.

Emma Littleton( Academic and Content Writer )

Emma completed her Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies at the University of Stellenbosch. She majored in French, Political Science, and History. She graduated cum laude with a Postgraduate Diploma in Intercultural Communication. However, with all of these diverse interests, she became confused about what occupation to pursue. While exploring career options Emma interned at a nonprofit organization as a social media manager and content creator. This confirmed what she had always known deep down, that writing was her true passion.

Growing up, Emma was exposed to the world of art at an early age thanks to her artist father. As she grew older her interests in art and history collided and she spent hours pouring over artists’ biographies and books about art movements. Primitivism, Art Nouveau, and Surrealism are some of her favorite art movements. By joining the Art in Context team, she has set foot on a career path that has allowed her to explore all of her interests in a creative and dynamic way.

Learn more about the Art in Context Team.