LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, and it is getting an exciting new home for its permanent collection. The museum’s new David Geffen Galleries will open on April 19, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Los Angeles. From April 19 to May 3, LACMA members and donors will get priority access to see the first installation of the collection. On May 3, the museum will also hold a free celebration for NexGenLA, a free youth membership program for Los Angeles County residents ages 17 and under. (lacma.org)
The new building was designed by architect Peter Zumthor. LACMA says the gallery space is elevated, about 900 feet long, and stretches across Wilshire Boulevard. The design is special because it puts art from many cultures and time periods on one level. LACMA also says there are no fixed visitor paths, so people can move in their own way and make their own art journey. (www-images.lacma.org)
Inside, the building can show about 2,500 to 3,000 objects in 110,000 square feet of gallery space. The first display is being created by 45 curators. Instead of organizing art only by time or style, the museum will use the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea as its main idea. This shows how travel, trade, and cultural exchange shaped art history. Visitors will be able to see famous works by artists such as Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, and Francis Bacon, along with new commissions by artists including Lauren Halsey and Do Ho Suh. (www-images.lacma.org)
The space outside the building is important too. LACMA says the project adds 3.5 acres of new outdoor space for public art, events, and education. The LACMA Store and LACMA Café are also planned to open in phases. When the David Geffen Galleries open, they will complete a two-decade campus transformation. LACMA says the museum will then have 220,000 square feet of gallery space, up from 130,000 square feet in 2007. For visitors, this means more art, more space, and a fresh new museum experience. (www-images.lacma.org)










