The Full LACMA Experience: From Instagram-famous Urban Light to Quiet Masterpieces

During my trip to Los Angeles in 2024, alongside a visit to the Getty Museum (read more about my art journey here), I also stopped by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). As the largest art museum in the western United States, LACMA houses over 100,000 pieces of art.

Most visitors recognise LACMA by its famous outdoor installation, Urban Light by Chris Burden. Composed of 202 restored street lamps from the 1920s and 30s, the piece transforms throughout the day. It stands as a solemn architectural poem under the sun, and flows like a river of soft light after dark. 

But I am more fascinated with the idea behind it: 'Art as a Beacon.' Urban Light guides visitors toward the world of art, and best of all, it’s free for everyone to experience. It is accessible even for visitors without an entrance ticket.

To the left of the lamp posts, you’ll find Miss Forest by Yoshitomo Nara (featured in the cover photo), quietly waiting. This piece reflects the artist's journey of healing after the trauma of the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March, as he struggled to create for the following six months. Through the tactile experience of clay, he rediscovered his creative warmth, encapsulating that tenderness in his sculpture. She is not just a little girl, but a representation of a silent greeting and an emotional resonance.

As you pass through the forest of lights, the small park behind the museum features a series of twelve zodiac bronze sculptures reminiscent of the famous bronze series of animal heads from the Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace). This is The Zodiac Project by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, which explores the fate of artworks, particularly in the context of cultural and political upheaval.

Of course, a visit wouldn’t be complete without entering the museum, which is a treat for lovers of contemporary art. Highlights include Mulholland Drive, a large painting by David Hockney from 1980 that vividly depicts his favourite Californian landscapes in bright colours. He painted this expansive work from memory, capturing the stretch from his home in Hollywood to his studio in just a few weeks.

Another must-see is René Magritte's classic work The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe), created when he was just 30. The painting shows a large pipe with the phrase 'Ceci n'est pas une pipe' underneath, prompting viewers to ponder the relationship between reality and representation, a quintessential exploration of surrealism.

The collection also includes Weeping Woman with Handkerchief by Pablo Picasso, depicting the artist's muse, Dora Maar. The theme of 'the weeping woman' was one of Picasso's favourites, with similar works housed in renowned museums worldwide, such as Tate Modern in the UK and the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. The image of the crying woman was inspired by the tragedy of the bombing of Guernica, which Picasso addressed in his monumental anti-war painting, Guernica created in June 1937.

Other Highlights:

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday (Closed on Wednesdays)
Address: 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States
Ticket: USD28 for adults (free access to outdoor public sculptures)
Website: https://www.lacma.org/