A day in LA: what art is must-see?

July 6, 2018 6:16 PM

I’m in LA tonight, leaving tomorrow night. I would love to see some of the most exciting contemporary art showing there right now. What do you recommend?
posted by Dragonness to Travel & Transportation around Los Angeles, CA (7 answers total)

Best answer: Head to the Arts District. Many interesting galleries within walking distance of each other. Hauser Wirth, ICA, The Box etc.

Also, Beyond the Streets looks awesome if you're interested in street art.
posted by Jellybean_Slybun at 6:46 PM on July 6, 2018

Best answer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Jurassic_Technology
posted by nickggully at 6:50 PM on July 6, 2018

Best answer: The Marciano Art Foundation has an amazing Olofur Eliasson installation and some very interesting pieces on view, plus it's in a former Scottish Rite lodge. Admission is free, reservations preferred; they open Saturday at 10 and there are tickets available (I just checked).
posted by mogget at 6:57 PM on July 6, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The general answer to this is The Broad, I think, but you generally have to book in advance (especially for weekends, doubly so for weekends attached to holiday weeks in the summer) and they're warning that there are street closures in the vicinity tomorrow. But, if you want to give it a shot. (But seriously it's going to be viciously dangerously hot tomorrow and there's generally an outdoor line you have to wait in.)

I was going to mention the Eliasson installation mogget linked. There is also a Jim Henson exhibition at the Skirball, which may not fit your brief but, you know, it's Muppets.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:00 PM on July 6, 2018

Best answer: The Broad is INCREDIBLE. It's just an utter jewel. Every wall has something spectacular on it. There's no question in my mind that if I was in your place, I'd get there an hour before they open, stocked with coffee and a broad-brimmed hat, and wait in the standby line. So, so worth it.

Also, I think the heat may be scaring people off. It might even be best to try the line later in the day. You can follow the standby line on twitter to see what the wait times are.
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:34 PM on July 6, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I'm going to LA in a few days and want to check out the Made in LA show at the Hammer, Elger Esser at Rosegallery, the Larry Bell glass cubes at Hauser and Wirth, James Turrell at Kayne Griffin Corcoran, and Matthew Porter at M+B.
posted by pinochiette at 10:01 PM on July 6, 2018

Best answer: The Broad is overrated, IMHO. Eli Broad is not an especially adventurous collector. You can see art by the artists in his collection anywhere. See the Made in LA show at the Hammer instead. No need for tickets.
posted by spudsilo at 11:55 AM on July 7, 2018 [4 favorites]