Don't miss these 5 art exhibits running in Los Angeles right now

08.09.2024 - 18:06 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 8, 2024 • 5 min read

Called the new California gold rush, gallerists from around the globe are flocking to Los Angeles to set up West Coast outposts. Mega art dealers like Sean Kelly, Vito Schnabel Gallery, David Zwirner and Hauser & Wirth have all expanded with LA locations. And in 2019, Frieze launched an annual contemporary art fair in LA (the next one runs from February 20–23, 2025, at Santa Monica Airport). 

The reason for all the attention? Some have pointed to the fresh energy of LA artists, a scene that’s eager to embrace underrepresented groups and the sheer space available in the sprawling city. Others admit that the year-round sunshine doesn’t hurt either. All these reasons also make LA an excellent city to be an art spectator. If you’d like to get in on the gold rush, this is the best art to see in LA right now.

Ruscha’s cross-media retrospective, which runs through October 6, 2024, is an ideal LA art exhibit as the artist has lived and worked here for decades and drawn much of his inspiration from the city. Explore Ruscha’s love for landscapes and typography through paintings, drawings, photographs and printmaking.

Score tickets: Adult admission for non-LA County residents to LACMA is $28 ($23 for residents). Walk-up tickets are available, though buying timed-entry tickets online in advance is recommended because time slots can sell out.

How to get there: The museum is located in LA’s Miracle Mile neighborhood, near the 10 and 101 freeways.

Make a day of it: Hit up multiple museums — the La Brea Tar Pits, Craft Contemporary, Petersen Automotive Museum, and Academy Museum of Motion Pictures are all within walking distance.

Top tip: While you’re at LACMA, be sure to swing by Zev Yaroslavsky Plaza to see Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s 12 zodiac head sculptures.

The California-based artist Mineo Mizuno created a site-specific sculpture at the Huntington from fallen timber gathered from the forests of the Sierra Nevada, where the artist lives. Homage to Nature, which is on display through May 25, 2029, explores both the forest’s susceptibility to destruction and potential for new growth. Situated in an outdoor garden, the sculpture fits right in at the Huntington, which is itself an homage to nature, with about 130 acres of botanical gardens, plus a massive research library and art museum.

Score tickets: Admission to the Huntington is $29 for adults.

How to get there: The Huntington is off the 110 Freeway in San Marino, near Pasadena and about 12 miles northeast of downtown LA. 

Make a day of it: Snag a reservation at the Huntington’s Rose Garden Tea Room and feast on house-made scones and lobster rolls. Then, head to Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, one of LA’s most impressive booksellers, and grab a