LACMA's New David Geffen Galleries: Such Sights To Show You

 By Jonathan Bilski

Such wonderful sights. An astounding collection of art, some centuries old, from all over the
world. Paintings, carvings, weaves, builds, films all around you. A place easy to get lost in. And, we were there at the opening night reception on Sunday, April 19th for members at a strange new structure to house it all. And, with a very LA crowd of art lovers more than ready to peruse it. LACMA's new David Geffen Galleries sits bent awkwardly over a street, looking more like a public bridge than a world class art museum. Frighteningly, inside it, the art has almost has no barriers to stop someone from touching it and being an arm's length from it can be very enticing.

A few hours earlier, a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony had occurred with the big names, artists, donors and such. Now, as the sun set, the wonderful Urban Lights lit up and attracted random people to take out their phones and take a selfie. Even people from the line to get in couldn't resist to grab photos with the iconic LACMA lamps. We slowly made way to the new gallery. Which, doesn't really have a good nickname yet. Soon, LACMA's members got their first preview of the new David Geffen Galleries. Which, doesn't really roll off the tongue.

"Where's the bar?" was the first thing I heard as I entered the grounds of the new LACMA. I could not blame the patron. The long line we were in had formed and the anticipation and thirst for both art and maybe a cocktail had gotten to everyone waiting to see the interior of architect Peter Zumthor's new take on what LACMA should be.

 I can tell you the man, does not care for restrooms. I know the place and piece should be for the art, but you have to take into account human beings having bladders. Or at least he could have. There's an Erewhon pop-up to grab food at ground level and some drinking fountains inside the actually gallery. Let me clarify, there's just drinking fountains. I don't believe you can take any water bottles or liquids up with you, so no refill stations up there. 

We'll get to the art, but like when I toured The Broad, you can tell a lot from a places restrooms and the care given to basic human needs.

In an almost comical way, when I asked one of the catering staff where the restroom was, it seemed to tax him. He tried his best to explain as the structure itself is so...undefinable and will make finding locations rather annoying. "Okay, so you see those to two concrete structures, go through them and it'll be on the first one on your left." Now, it sounds, weird, because it is. And, how it's labeled does not help. It's very easy to miss. There were only two toilets in there, which were nicely private and for any gender. With volume of patrons seems like not the best plan. With supply and demand.

If you're thinking I'm not a fan of Zumthor's work, you'd be correct.

 

Super easy to find with that label and door that looks like every other door

Can't deny the wondrous collection of art though. LACMA's collections of art shines. You will be in utter awe of the collection of art you have access to. Art from across time and all oceans. Literally, that's the layout for this inaugural exhibition. It's by ocean. A strange take, but the setup of the space was never gonna make it easy to locate pieces anyway.

By the objectively long stairs up, which will probably be a core memory for little Angelenos or by the simple elevator ride to the one floor massive gallery bridge that is now LACMA's main body you'll be greeted by a horse's arse...excuse me, three of them fused together. LACMA is totally playing with us. Or at least is for this starting exhibition. You're making a clear statement when you're putting that there when you get off the elevator. It made me laugh.

Liz Glynn’s “The Futility of Conquest (Cavalcade),” 2023

We've visited LACMA over the years for various exhibits here at TTDILA and just myself from field trips to enjoying art as a teen to and adult and it's like having flashbacks. Very much like when The Broad opened and you saw so many classic pieces in a new setting. There's just so many memories and so much to see.

Seeing works up close on a level that frankly me and other patrons were shocked by. People can get close to pieces older than this city, state or country! It's a little intense that LACMA feels safe enough to allow this level of intimacy with this work. Seeing stuff before you know the year one, up close, can be a bit heavy.

Yes, docents were present and did warn when people got close, still I'm amazed at how free you were allowed to wander the halls.

 

 

You'll turn a corner and be surprised by a completely different medium. 

 Or time period.

 

Like I wrote earlier, is you have this just...eye-catching, slow-down, take a moment and look art. Think.
Just think. Or let it stir some emotion in you. 

You could park a car in here

oh, they did

Wait, where is that section? Ughhh. Navigating the Geffen might seem easy, but it's not designed very well for human traffic. Just like its restrooms. As my colleague put it, "It’s like an IKEA without arrows." When, I wrote you can get lost in it. You kind of can. I'm sure you can ask a docent for help. One could hope you could navigate a recently created museum that's supposed to be a simple walk by regular people, but all the walls, the grim concrete walls, look the same. 

It's very easy to get lost in it and with no real sort of design or color scheme like the blue section or yellow section. Or truly anything, it's hard to define where anything is or where to go.

I hate to bring up The Backrooms again from other stuff I've been writing, but with the movie out soon and new horror phenom being liminal space, the new gallery wins it for sheer scary boredom. This place is a perfect backdrop for a liminal space horror movie.

Oh, and it totally matches the same grim inside and industrial look of the nearby Academy Museum's malaise of parking garage design.

I was joking about the floors with a colleague on how could they be ruined with them being brand new. Like, how is there splattered paint on the floor? It's a brand new museum. So, they sort of actively chose to rip their own jeans? There's some cracks too. What was this design choice? Trying to be punk?

The Gallery is so vast though, I thought it was underutilized and could have had even more being shown for the opening exhibit. You'll be amazed how much can fit in there.

In the end, that's all that this is about. LACMA's art. Angelenos and the world will enjoy it for decades to come at the new LACMA. Though it might be different, not a futuristic or classic design, it will become one just because it houses such amazing art. The David Geffen Galleries will hopefully get a nickname. And, one day it'll be featured in a movie/show or two and be another icon of LA. 

You can enjoy all of the art inside of it and literally get lost in it.

 

LACMA

David Geffen Galleries Grand Opening
Member Previews: April 19-May 3, 2026

LACMA Then Open To The General Public May 4 

NexGenLA Celebration: Family Fun Begins with the David Geffen Galleries 
Sunday, May 3, 10am–2pm

Angelenos are invited to explore, create, and celebrate art and imagination at a free, fun-filled day for NexGenLA members and their families! Be among the first visitors to experience LACMA's permanent collection in the new David Geffen Galleries. Designed by world-renowned architect Peter Zumthor, this new space reflects the creativity and diversity of our city. Celebrate LACMA's next chapter with hands–on art workshops, face painting, and performances with your L.A. community.  

LACMA encourages families to sign up in advance and become a member of NexGenLA, LACMA's free youth membership for kids and teens 17 and under who live in L.A. County. 

The Art Parade is a large-scale public procession on Museum Row presented as part of the free, all-day LACMA Block Party on Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6 pm. That includes free museum admission.