Whether it’s the mind-bending installations in a neighboring desert, the expansive retrospectives honoring late artists or the epically-scaled events that blur the line between reality and fantasy, there’s no denying that Los Angeles has a thriving cultural scene. It offers thought-provoking creativity in every shape and form imaginable. But while there are tons of world-class galleries to lose yourself in all year round, a few art experiences are only stopping by for a limited time. Here are eight of the best exhibitions in Los Angeles you simply cannot miss:
1. Keith Haring: Art Is For Everybody at The Broad
The Broad marks itself as the first-ever museum to present Keith Haring’s body of work in Los Angeles with their newly unveiled exhibition. With over 120 original artworks and archival materials, Keith Haring: Art Is For Everybody explores the artist’s personal life and artistic practice. Divided into 10 distinct galleries, the exhibition features videos, sculptures, drawings, paintings, graphic works, personal journals and representations from Haring’s iconic subway drawings and public murals.
The expansive exhibition touches on core themes from the artist’s work: from environmentalism, capitalism and technology to religion, sexuality, race and the HIV/AIDS crisis that he dedicated the last years of his life to.
⭐️ Pro-tip: Admission is free on Thursdays with RSVP here.
🎟 Tickets: Grab them here!
🗓 When: May 27 through Oct 8, 2023
📍 Location: The Broad, 221 S. Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012
2. Thomas J. Price Beyond Measure at Hauser & Wirth
This larger-than-life exhibition at Hauser & Wirth in the Arts District is the first comprehensive solo exhibition in the United States for the British artist Thomas J. Price. With his towering bronze sculptures filling the space, Price silently urges the viewers to contemplate the power of visibility and what it means to be a body that occupies space in today’s world.
In the words of the gallery, “Price never casts his figurative works at a one-to-one scale, stating that the size variations foster an interplay with silently coded monuments that permeate society, prompting us to reconsider who should exist in that form.”
🎟 Tickets: Free, no advance booking necessary
🗓 When: Now through August 20, 2023
📍 Location: 901 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
3. Carl Craig: Party/After-Party at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
Immerse yourself in a visually stimulating and sonically rich experience at Carl Craig’s Party/After-Party exhibition at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. The Detroit-based techno DJ and producer has transformed the gallery space into a pulsing, mesmerizing night club — but it’s all curated and crafted from the distinct lens of the DJ.
Reminiscent of Berlin’s notorious Berghain, Party/After-Party immediately envelops you in a lush and throbbing soundscape which honors the Black pioneers of techno and electronic music. Don’t hold back if your body pleads you to dance — the visceral is made sacred at this experimental and enrapturing exhibition.
ℹ️ Important info: Please be advised that Party/After-Party features low lighting and strobe effects
🎟 Tickets: Free, reservations required
🗓 When: April 16 – July 23, 2023
📍 Location: 152 North Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012
4. Danie Cansino: This Is My Blood at Charlie James Gallery
Los Angeles-based artist Danie Cansino gets her second solo exhibition at Charlie James Gallery in Chinatown. Combining a dramatic mix of Baroque realism and Chicanx aesthetics, Cansino’s pieces come to life and subvert traditional Western art with a captivating dose of realismo magico. The multimedia artist draws heavily on her experience as a tattoo artist, weaving in themes and visual symbolism from Chicanx street culture in East Los Angeles.
The exhibition also speaks to misogyny and machismo within Latinx culture and the art world as a whole. The centerpiece of the show is a spectacular 6 x 16-foot painting which depicts Cansino’s reimagination of The Last Supper, (1495–1498). In her version, thirteen male artists and colleagues fill the right side, while the right panel — titled A Seat at The Table — depicts eleven female artists and curators, including a self-portrait. The stunning piece is a powerful representation of the chronic gender imbalance within creative spaces. You won’t want to miss the brilliance of Cansino’s work in person.
🎟 Tickets: Free, reservations required
🗓 When: May 6 – June 24, 2023
📍 Location: 969 Chung King Road Los Angeles, CA 90012
5. The Hotel Who: A Love Story at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel
At Hotel Who, you’ll step into the lavish Biltmore Hotel and discover a Shakespearean story that you actually get to take part in! A marriage between two feuding families, an otherworldly dimension, and a mystery that needs solving. But even if you just wind up dancing the night away, a fun time is guaranteed for all. Learn more about The Hotel Who and get your tickets here.
🎟 Tickets: Book your tickets here
🗓 When: April 15 – July 15, 2023
📍 Location: 506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles 90071
6. Dinos Alive in Montebello
Dinos Alive Exhibit: An Immersive Experience has taken over a sprawling warehouse, featuring over 80 specimens of life-sized moving replicas such as T-Rex, Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurs. This exhibit is a fascinating journey into The Jurassic and will leave audiences of all ages in awe. Get your tickets here and get ready to wander the planet with the giants of the past.
🎟 Tickets: Book your tickets here
🗓 When: Now through September 3, 2023
📍 Location: 1345 N. Montebello Boulevard, Montebello, CA 90640
7. Flutter on La Brea
Explore, play and adventure at flutter, the top-rated multi-sensory art experience in America. This provocative, interactive exhibit in Los Angeles was developed to help you find your inner artist and unleash your imagination. It’s a fun, visceral wonderland created by 14 curated artists with a focus on mental health. It’s the escape we’ve been asking for and as well as leaving you in a state of pure bliss, a portion of the tickets go towards Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. Find out more here.
🎟 Tickets: Book your tickets here
🗓 When: Now through September 2023
📍 Location: 217 S La Brea, Los Angeles, CA 90036
8. World of Barbie Experience in Santa Monica
The wonderfully nostalgic World of Babrie experience has been such a hit with Angelenos that it has extended its run through the summer! Walk through her Dreamhouse, sit in the driver’s seat of the Camper Van, mix some music at the Barbie Music Studio, and even create your own doll! Whether you’re a lifelong fan or introducing Barbie to the next generation, this is the perfect way to dive in. Learn more and get your tickets here!
🎟 Tickets: Book your tickets here
🗓 When: Now through September 2023
📍 Location: 395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401