Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA's) permanent collection consists of more than 100,000 works, making it the largest nonspecialized museum west of Chicago. Its comprehensive range of works includes everything from antiquities to contemporary art, excellent Asian and Islamic art collections, and European, American and contemporary paintings and sculpture. A separate pavilion contains Japanese art. Construction is under way on a master plan by architect Renzo Piano (who designed the Pompidou in Paris and the Menil Collection in Houston) to add coherence to the maze of buildings and styles on the 20-acre campus. The first phase is completed, with a magnificent glass-enclosed entrance pavilion, the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM), and the remodeled Ahmanson Building.
A concourse will connect all the buildings, including LACMA West, the former department store used for traveling exhibits and lecture series. LACMA hosts impressive temporary exhibitions, lectures, film series and free jazz on Friday nights. Stop by Pentimento Restaurant in the center for a lunch break. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday noon-8 pm; Friday noon-9 pm; Saturday and Sunday 11 am-8 pm; closed Wednesday. LACMA West closes at 5 pm. US$12 adults, US$8 seniors and students, children age 17 and younger free. Prices for special exhibits vary. Admission price includes lectures but not films. You can pay what you wish after 5 pm and admission is free on select holiday Mondays and on the second Tuesday of each month (except for ticketed exhibitions). There are various paid parking lots nearby (including one just east of Fairfax Avenue on 6th Street for US$7) and limited metered parking (read signs carefully). 5905 Wilshire Blvd. (Museum Row), Los Angeles. Phone 323-857-6000. http://www.lacma.org.
