11 Unmissable Exhibitions To Catch In Los Angeles

There’s no denying that Los Angeles has a thriving cultural scene. Whether it’s the unmistakable L.A. sunsets lighting up Hollywood films, the mind-bending installations in a neighboring desert, or the epically-scaled events that blur the line between reality and hit shows. There is culture to soak up in every corner, 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 exhibitions you simply cannot miss this year:

1. Monet: The Immersive Experience at a Montebello Warehouse

While immersive exhibitions may have become the norm in recent years, this gorgeous Claude Monet experience has returned to L.A. purely by demand—but only until June. Using state-of-the-art projections will paint your surroundings with his vivid impressionist strokes scored by stunning classical tracks. Get your tickets here and get ready for a breathtaking visual voyage through the French painter’s idyllic landscapes..

2. Yayoi Kusama at The Broad

One of L.A.’s most iconic exhibitions is finally back at The Broad, with notable improvements. You’ll no longer have to camp outside to glimpse the renowned Japanese artist’s mesmerizing ‘Infinity Mirrored Rooms’ with the new ticketing system, plus you’ll get a little more time to spend inside them. Tickets are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and the two installations will be on show for most of 2022. Find out more here.

3. Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse at LACMA

From the macabre depths of the late designer’s creative mind came irreplicable beauty that took shape in various forms, including immersive multimedia, technology, and, of course, dressmaking. His remarkable creativity and technical ability captured the world’s attention between 1990 and 2010. In this exhibit, you’ll delve into the legend’s inspiration, techniques, and methods. Find out more here.

4. Hayao Miyazaki retrospective at the Academy Museum

The Academy Museum is showcasing the work of the award-winning Studio Ghibli creator in all its glory. You’ll enter through a green tunnel of soft satin-like sheets, filtering the gentle light that dances across the floor beneath your feet. You’re immediately transported to the Tsukamori Forest from My Neighbor Totoro. Just like this intriguing curtain-raiser, the rest of the landmark exhibition is a cinematic journey into the Hayao Miyazaki0’s mastery. Guests will experience a mix of screenings, installations, artworks, and interactive elements that will envelop you in the magical world of profound animations. Find out more here.

5. Beyond King Tut at Magic Box

Be transported back 3,000 years and go face-to-face with the Egyptian gods at National Geographic’s Beyond King Tut. Egypt’s world wonders, golden treasures and ornate artifacts will encompass your surroundings, pulling you through a fascinating, untold story of the boy king you and the mysterious world of Ancient Egypt. This experience puts you inside a tomb of the past and allows you to investigate history through a modern lens. Catch this remarkable exhibit from October 7. Get your tickets here.

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.

7. Takashi Murakami at The Broad

The legendary Takashi Murakami has his first-ever solo exhibition at The Broad. Explore 18 of his works, from provocative sculptures to his large-scale vivid 2D works, with A.R. filling the space in between. You can see his most famous pieces like the 82-foot-wide “In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow,” along with other works that will come to life in this unique exhibit. Find out more here.

8. Color Fields at Blush Studios

Discover analog color theory through light, shape, form, movement and technology at Color Fields LA, an immersive 10,000-square-foot exhibition. You’ll wander landscapes of light and shadow follies, each providing a different analogy of how we see, experience, and translate colors. Explore five unique exhibitions, each a field of color: The Glow Field Photo Booth, the Mobile Field, the Color Wheel, the Laser Field, and the Me Field (where you can upload your silhouette to a large screen). Get your tickets here.

9. Flutter at 217 S La Brea

Explore, play and adventure at flutter, the top-rated multisensory art experience in America. This provocative, interactive exhibit 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.

10. A Forest for the Trees, Boyle Heights

“A Forest for the Trees” is a stunning new exhibition in Boyle Heights that transports you to a rich, mystical place. Your journey through this experience encompasses animatronic performing trees, interactive sculptures, vibrant light shows, wildlife scenes, and so much more incredible artistry all accompanied by original music. Find out more about this thoughtful and innovative exhibit here.

5. Bodies 2.0: The Universe Within at the Santa Monica Art Museum

After more than a decade, this fascinating exhibition returns to Los Angeles. The exhibition showcases 200 real human specimens that have been respectfully dissected for a deeper look into how our entire body works layer by layer, from fetus to fully grown adult. In addition to this, the world’s first-ever V.R. experience will take you inside the human body with 360-degree views. The exhibition opened this week and will be on through October 15. Find out more here.