Review: The Broad Museum in Los Angeles

The Broad Museum in downtown Los Angeles is one of Los Angeles’ most popular attractions and it is a must see for any visitor. If you love art and live in the Los Angeles area or have plans for visiting downtown Los Angeles, set a day aside to visit this spectacular art space. Located next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall and across the street from MOCA Grand (Museum of Contemporary Art), the Broad Museum is home to over 2000 contemporary works of art. The museum is located in the heart of downtown and is accessible by public transportation including bus and metro lines.

Admission to the Broad Museum is free but you must reserve your general admission tickets in advance. General admission tickets open up on the first of the month, for the following month. Tickets can be reserved via their website here. If you are visiting last minute or weren’t able to get tickets in advance, you can just show up early the day of and try your luck for first come, first served standby tickets. General admission tickets allow you access to the main exhibition space only (third floor galleries). Children old enough to walk will need their own tickets.

On display in the main exhibition space, you’ll find an eclectic and changing selection of art from the Broad collection. The galleries feature works of art by major artists who came to prominence in the 1950s, including Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Cy Twombly. The collection also displays pop art of the 1960s by Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha and Andy Warhol, among others. Moving into the 1980s, the galleries present a rich concentration of works by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kara Walker, Keith Haring, Barbara Kruger, and Jeff Koons.

Special and traveling exhibitions, including Yoyoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors, currently on display in the first floor galleries, require a separate admission ticket. General admission tickets do not include access to special exhibitions. Infinity Mirrors will be on display until January 1, 2018 but advanced reservation tickets are already sold old. However, same-day standby tickets are still available. Jasper Johns: Something Resembling Truth will be on display from February 10, 2018 to May 13, 2018.

Visiting the Broad Museum – important things to know

General admission hours:

• Monday – Closed
• Tuesday – 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Wednesday – 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Thursday – 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
• Friday – 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
• Saturday – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Sunday – 10:00 to 6:00 PM

Tours and talks:

• Throughout the day, the Broad offers art talks and public tours of the galleries. The tours are led every Tuesday through Sunday at 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. Tours meet on the third floor and are included with your free general admission ticket.

Parking:

• Parking is available on-site in the underground parking structure ($12 for first 3 hours). Additional parking can be found in the surrounding area for various prices.

Photography and sketching:

• You are permitted to take pictures of the collection but you cannot use tripods, video cameras, easels or selfie sticks. Pencil sketches are also allowed with sketchbooks no larger than 11 x 17 inches.

What’s not allowed inside:

• Personal items such as backpacks, purses and other bags larger than 12 x 12 inches are not allowed into the galleries.
• Backpacks are NOT permitted to be worn on your backs.
• Single-wide strollers are permitted. Double-wide strollers are not.

Broad Museum Bottom Line

If you love art, the Broad Museum is a must-visit while you’re in Los Angeles. Admission is free and the entire space will take you less than two hours to explore. And to continue your Los Angeles art-walk, you can visit the MOCA Grand museum across the street during the same day. Kill two birds with one amazing day exploring some of Los Angles’ most iconic art spaces.

Staying downtown and need a place to stay? Check out my review of the brand new Intercontinental Hotel Downtown Los Angeles here.

Have you visited the Broad Museum? Please share your thoughts with me in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!