The Broad, Los Angeles

The Broad, Los Angeles (must see)

LA's newest contemporary art museum, The Broad, was founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad and opened to the public in September 2015. Housed in a striking, honeycomb-like building designed by the architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the museum itself is very much an attraction in its own right. Its distinctive metallic exterior is made up of 2,500 fiberglass-reinforced concrete panels, which allow natural light to filter into the galleries while also providing shade and insulation.

"The Broad" is an apt name for this museum as it presents a wide array of modern art pieces. The collection consists of over 2,000 works of art, spanning many decades, from the postwar to contemporary periods, and various disciplines, with something to see for everyone – of almost any age. The famous standard names here include the likes of Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, and Cindy Sherman, but do check out the multi-media advance offerings and the special exhibits that change on a constant basis. Look out, also, for some of the coolest elevator and escalator rides in the Downtown area.

Inside, the museum exhibition space is organized on two floors, with works arranged thematically rather than chronologically. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of art, from massive sculptures and installations to paintings, photographs, and video works. The museum also has a robust program of temporary exhibitions, which showcase works by emerging and established artists from around the world.

One of the most popular pieces in the museum's permanent collection is Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room - The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, which is a darkened room filled with reflective orbs that seem to go on forever. To see it, it is recommended that you arrive early – especially on peak-time summer weekends and holidays – and walk quickly to the right side upon entering to put your name on the wait list at the kiosk. Although the time inside the room is limited to a maximum of 45 seconds, you will be left with the quite exquisite feeling of being alone with millions of stars.

Although some special exhibitions may require a fee, the major – and perhaps unique to Downtown – aspect of the Broad is its free general admissions policy for the permanent collection. This has resulted in a far younger, and far more racially/culturally diverse audience than any other art museum in Los Angeles!

The Broad is definitely worth a visit for an hour or two – just make sure to pre-book tickets online and avoid waiting in the standby ticket line!

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Los Angeles. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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The Broad on Map

Sight Name: The Broad
Sight Location: Los Angeles, USA (See walking tours in Los Angeles)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Los Angeles, California

Create Your Own Walk in Los Angeles

Create Your Own Walk in Los Angeles

Creating your own self-guided walk in Los Angeles is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Movie Studios Tour

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Beverly Hills Walking Tour

Beverly Hills Walking Tour

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Beverly Hills started to gain prominence in the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Chinatown Walking Tour

Chinatown Walking Tour

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Designed by Hollywood artists as a "Chinese" movie prop to create an exotic atmosphere, LA's Chinatown gives out...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Arts District Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Downtown Architecture Walking Tour

Downtown Architecture Walking Tour

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One prominent landmark is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, a contemporary construction masterpiece with its...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
El Pueblo and Little Tokyo Walk

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The former is the oldest district in the city. Also known as the birthplace of Los Angeles, El Pueblo is centered around the Los Angeles Plaza. Throughout most of the 19th century, it was the city's administrative and commercial center: first under the Spanish (from 1781 to 1821),...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

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