Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles · United States · Founded 1961
Quick answer
Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, United States — the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western United States, holding more than 150,000 works spanning art history from antiquity to the present. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Weekends: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM; closed Wednesdays. Admission: $25 standard admission. Allow 2–3 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Weekends: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Admission | $25 standard admission |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Friday evenings when the museum stays open until 8 PM — Urban Light is lit and crowds are lighter indoors. |
| Getting there | Metro: Metro D (Purple) Line to Wilshire/Fairfax station — directly across Wilshire Boulevard from the museum entrance and Urban Light |
| Address | 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA |
| Official website | lacma.org |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Los Angeles County Museum of Art known for?
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western United States, holding more than 150,000 works spanning art history from antiquity to the present. Its campus sprawls along Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile — a cluster of buildings from different eras connected by outdoor sculpture gardens and Chris Burden's Urban Light installation at the main entrance.
Urban Light — 202 restored cast-iron street lamps from Southern California streets, arranged in a grid and lit nightly — has become one of Los Angeles's most iconic landmarks and a free public artwork accessible without museum admission. Levitated Mass, Michael Heizer's 340-ton granite boulder suspended above a concrete trench, draws equal crowds to the Resnick Pavilion.
LACMA's collections are particularly strong in Asian art (Japanese screens, Chinese bronzes, Korean ceramics), Latin American art from ancient to contemporary, and modern American painting. The museum is undergoing a transformative rebuild: architect Peter Zumthor's new David Geffen Galleries building will replace several aging structures and open in phases.
Until the new building fully opens, portions of the campus are closed and the collection is displayed in the BCAM (Broad Contemporary Art Museum) and Resnick Pavilion. Check lacma.org for current gallery availability before visiting.
Best for: Art Lovers · First-timers · Photography
How long do you need at Los Angeles County Museum of Art?
Allow 2–3 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Los Angeles County Museum of Art without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Urban Light
📍 Wilshire Boulevard entrance (free, outdoor)
202 restored cast-iron street lamps dating from the 1920s and 1930s, sourced from Southern California streets and lit nightly from dusk to dawn.
- 2
Levitated Mass
📍 Resnick Pavilion North Lawn (free, outdoor)
A 340-ton granite boulder suspended above a 456-foot concrete slot — visitors walk beneath the mass as it appears to float.
- 3
The Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies)
📍 Latin American Art, BCAM
Rivera's luminous painting of an indigenous girl arranging calla lilies — among the most beloved works in LACMA's strong Latin American collection spanning ancient Mexico to modern muralism.
- 4
Three Quintains (Hello Girls)
📍 Modern Art, BCAM
A monumental mobile of black and red steel elements that move with air currents — Calder's kinetic sculpture tradition represented alongside the outdoor works on campus.
What are the must-see works at Los Angeles County Museum of Art?
4 highlights that define the collection: Urban Light, Levitated Mass, The Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies) and more.
Urban Light
Chris Burden · 2008
📍 Wilshire Boulevard entrance (free, outdoor)
202 restored cast-iron street lamps dating from the 1920s and 1930s, sourced from Southern California streets and lit nightly from dusk to dawn. Los Angeles's most photographed public artwork — free to visit without museum admission.
Levitated Mass
Michael Heizer · 2012
📍 Resnick Pavilion North Lawn (free, outdoor)
A 340-ton granite boulder suspended above a 456-foot concrete slot — visitors walk beneath the mass as it appears to float. Heizer's most accessible earthwork; the boulder's 11-day transport from Riverside became a city-wide event.
The Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies)
Diego Rivera · 1941
📍 Latin American Art, BCAM
Rivera's luminous painting of an indigenous girl arranging calla lilies — among the most beloved works in LACMA's strong Latin American collection spanning ancient Mexico to modern muralism.
Three Quintains (Hello Girls)
Alexander Calder · 1964
📍 Modern Art, BCAM
A monumental mobile of black and red steel elements that move with air currents — Calder's kinetic sculpture tradition represented alongside the outdoor works on campus.
Collections and highlights
- • Urban Light — Chris Burden street lamps
- • Levitated Mass — Michael Heizer boulder
- • Japanese art — screens, prints, and ceramics
- • Latin American art — ancient to contemporary
- • Modern and contemporary art — BCAM building
- • Islamic art and textiles
- • Korean art and Buddhist sculpture
- • Film and photography
Tips for visiting Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- 1.
Best time to visit
Friday evenings when the museum stays open until 8 PM — Urban Light is lit and crowds are lighter indoors. Weekday mornings for gallery viewing.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Weekends are busy, especially around Urban Light for photos. The Zumthor construction means some galleries are closed — check current status online.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
General admission $25 at lacma.org; LA County residents free after 3 PM on weekdays with ID. Urban Light and Levitated Mass are always free outdoors.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Ray's and Stark Bar on the LACMA campus; Petersen Automotive Museum café across Wilshire; Fairfax Avenue restaurants (Republique, Animal) 5 minutes south.
- 5.
Accessibility
Most open galleries accessible. Construction zones may require detours — check accessibility routing at the ticket desk.
How do you get to Los Angeles County Museum of Art?
- metro Metro D (Purple) Line to Wilshire/Fairfax station — directly across Wilshire Boulevard from the museum entrance and Urban Light
- bus Metro Rapid 720 and Local 20 run along Wilshire Boulevard; stop at Ogden or Fairfax directly at the museum
- car Underground Pritzker Parking Garage on 6th Street ($16–$20); street parking on Wilshire limited to 2 hours
Address: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: frequently asked questions
Is Urban Light free to visit?
Yes, the installation sits outside on Wilshire Boulevard and is free to photograph day or night.
When does the new building open?
The Geffen Galleries by Peter Zumthor are scheduled to open in stages — check the official site for the latest timing.
How long should I spend at Los Angeles County Museum of Art?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Our 4-stop route — Urban Light, Levitated Mass, The Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies) and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is Los Angeles County Museum of Art best known for?
LACMA opened in 1965 on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile and now holds more than 150,000 works spanning the history of art from prehistory to today. Key highlights include Urban Light — Chris Burden street lamps, Levitated Mass — Michael Heizer boulder, Japanese art — screens, prints, and ceramics.
How do I get tickets for Los Angeles County Museum of Art?
Admission: $25 standard admission. Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.lacma.org/
Is LACMA closed for the Zumthor rebuild?
LACMA is partially open during construction of Peter Zumthor's David Geffen Galleries — not fully closed. Several older buildings have been demolished, and the collection is displayed in the BCAM and Resnick Pavilion. Urban Light, Levitated Mass, and outdoor sculptures remain accessible. The new building is opening in phases — check lacma.org for which galleries are currently open before visiting.
Can you see Urban Light without paying for LACMA admission?
Yes — Urban Light sits on the Wilshire Boulevard sidewalk outside the museum fence and is free to visit 24 hours a day. It is lit from dusk to dawn. Levitated Mass on the north campus is also free outdoors. Both are among LA's most popular photo destinations and require no ticket.
How does LACMA compare to The Broad and MOCA?
LACMA is encyclopedic — 150,000 works spanning 6,000 years across Asia, Latin America, and the West. The Broad (free, downtown) focuses on postwar contemporary art from a single collection. MOCA (downtown) specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on California artists. LACMA is the largest and most comprehensive; pair The Broad and MOCA on one day, LACMA on another.
Is Los Angeles County Museum of Art open on Wednesdays?
No — Los Angeles County Museum of Art is closed every Wednesday. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Weekends: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are Los Angeles County Museum of Art's opening hours?
Los Angeles County Museum of Art is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Weekends: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, and closed Wednesdays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
