Los Angeles has a new art landmark. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA, officially opened its new David Geffen Galleries on April 19, 2026. The building was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. Museum members could visit first until May 3, and general admission began on May 4. (lacma.org)
This new space is very large. It stretches across Wilshire Boulevard and has 110,000 square feet of gallery space. It can show about 2,500 to 3,000 objects from LACMA’s collection, which covers about 6,000 years of art from around the world. Under the raised gallery floor, there are 3.5 acres of new outdoor public space, so the area is not only for looking at art inside. (www-images.lacma.org)
One of the most interesting things is the way the art is shown. Many museums group works by time, country, or style. LACMA chose a different idea for its first display. It uses four bodies of water—the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea—to connect artworks. The museum says this helps visitors think about how people, goods, and ideas moved across the world. In a way, the visit can feel more like a journey than a history lesson. (www-images.lacma.org)
The experience is also very “Los Angeles.” The galleries have large windows, changing natural light, and wide views of the city. Outside, visitors can find public artworks around the building as they walk through the new campus. So this opening is not just about a new building. It is about a new way to enjoy art in Los Angeles. (unframed.lacma.org)










