When I found myself in Los Angeles with a few hours to kill between meetings there was only one place I wanted to go – The Broad Museum. One of the newest museums in Los Angeles, it’s also one of the most interesting and certainly the most visually stunning. While not usually an art lover, I knew that The Broad was a place with which I would click and immediately upon entering I knew that my hunch was right. One of the most unique museums in the country, I hope these photos show why it’s one every visitor to Los Angeles should visit.
The History
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Eli Broad first started collecting art in the early 1970s when he bought a Van Gogh drawing. That simple purchase led to the creation of one of the world’s greatest art collections and ultimately the development of the Broad Museum. Eventually specializing in post-World War II art, the Broads worked with and encouraged many artists as they started their careers.
For years Broad sought a way to share his works of art with the general public and that dream became a reality when, in 2015, the Broad Museum opened in downtown Los Angeles. This new contemporary art museum is home to the 2,000 works of art in the Broad collection, amongst the most prominent holdings of postwar and contemporary art worldwide. This massive, 120,000-square-foot, $140 million building features two floors of gallery space showcasing some of the most important works of art of the last half century.
How To Visit
What’s perhaps most remarkable about the museum is that it’s free to enter. In an era and in a city that could demand a hefty admission fee, the Broad simply wants to make the collection as accessible as possible so that everyone can appreciate the artwork. But the Broad is also one of the most popular museums in town, so even though the tickets are free you still need to reserve timed tickets online. I didn’t think that far ahead when I visited, but luckily there’s an option even for people like me. Visitors can simply show up and wait in line for a number of same-day timed tickets that are available throughout the day. I visited mid-week in the afternoon, so my wait was only 10 minutes, but I’ve been told that on the weekends it can be a lot longer, so be sure to plan ahead if you can.
The Collection
I’m not a big art fan, but a story I saw on a TV news program about the Broad intrigued me. The works of art highlighted on the program seemed so unusual and so interesting that I knew I had to see them in person. Walking into the museum, the architecture of the building is as much a feature of the visit as were those works on canvas. It’s a beautiful structure, with high sweeping ceilings and design elements so unique that they fit perfectly with the avant-garde artwork housed within. This post is not an art critique, that’s an area I know nothing about. Instead I just want to share a few of the works of art that I found most interesting and to show why the Broad Museum is such a special place.
