VIBE

In a city where appearances are everything, it’s not suprising that this hulking, mismatched museum campus is undergoing a massive, decade-long exterior renewal project (led by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop) to give it cohesion and panache. On the inside, though, it’s business as usual with the mind-bogglingly comprehensive collections. While the permanent holdings span classics ancient to modern, LACMA is also known for staging some of the nation’s most avant-garde temporary exhibitions.

GO HERE WITH

Art connoisseurs; friends; a date; family

WHY WE LIKE IT

Although it’s easy to get lost in the winding corridors while on the hunt for a specific artistic treasure, it’s also easy to stumble upon an unexpectedly captivating exhibit. You may find yourself wiling away an afternoon studying their astounding glass display or ambling through the sculpture garden when you had originally been looking for something else entirely. We especially dig the Japanese art collection–the Edo collection is rumored to be rivaled only by the private holdings of the emperor of Japan himself.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The signage could definitely be improved–restrooms, entrances, and exits are all difficult to find. Also, as the museum is currently undergoing massive renovations, the building work can at times detract from the peaceful ambiance.

GOOD TO KNOW

If you have your heart set on seeing something special from the permanent collections, check their website in advance before visiting, as over the next few years, certain sections of the museum will be intermittently closed due to the renovations. If it’s the special exhibitions you’re after, check out their free, 50-minute weekly tour. (See website for info on time, date, and starting point.) Besides the fab art, LACMA also houses a great restaurant, Pentimento, which is a nice chat-and-lunch spot–but if you’ve got a laptop or children in tow, head straight for the more relaxed Plaza cafe instead, where seating is plentiful and Wi-Fi is free. Parking is now available in LACMA’s very own, brand new 6th Street garage for USD 7/car.

CLOSEST COMPS

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Read more about the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in The Diary

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