The Pearl’s Curated List of Must-See Exhibitions
National Arts & Humanities Month is right around the corner. Launched by Americans for the Arts over 30 years ago, this is the nation’s largest celebration of the arts – and the perfect inspiration for you to explore LA’s vibrant cultural scene. We’ve curated a list of exciting must-see exhibitions not far from The Pearl, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure, Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody, and Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. You’ll also discover some artists and venues that may not be on your radar, such as USC Pacific Asia Museum, Japan House, and the flamboyant pop up, Mr. Brainwash Art Museum. We recommend that you get your tickets now, as these shows can sell out fast.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure The Grand LA, 100 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s contributions to the history of art and his explorations of multifaceted cultural phenomena––including music, the Black experience, pop culture, Black American sports figures, literature, and other sources–are showcased through immersive environments providing unique insight into the late artist’s creative life and his singular voice that propelled a social and cultural narrative that continues to this day. Organized and curated by the family of Jean-Michel Basquiat, this exhibition of over 200 never-before-seen and rarely shown paintings, drawings, multimedia presentations, ephemera, and artifacts tell the story of Jean-Michel from an intimate perspective, intertwining his artistic endeavors with his personal life, influences, and the times in which he lived.
Mineo Mizuno The Huntington 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108
Three striking new works by California-based artist Mineo Mizuno activate the Huntington Art Gallery and its outdoor loggia to invite new ways of looking at the art collections and surrounding gardens. Mizuno’s practice connects the ceramic traditions and aesthetic philosophies of his native Japan with the artistic and cultural legacies of California, his home for more than 50 years. While you’re there, be sure to visit Liu Fang Yuan or the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, one of the finest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China. Filled with Chinese plants and framed by exquisite architecture, the landscape is enriched with references to literature and art.
The Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108
Great news for high tea fans! After an extensive renovation, The Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room is now open. Set within the historic Rose Garden, the Tea Room offers an elegant and memorable experience inspired by the tradition of English tea service with a distinctive California twist.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience 1345 N. Montebello Blvd. Montebello, CA, 90640
Have you ever dreamt of stepping into a painting? Take an awe-inspiring journey into the incomparable universe of Van Gogh, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the 19th century. Explore his life, his work, and his secrets as never before through cutting-edge 360-degree digital projections, a one-of-a-kind VR experience, and a uniquely atmospheric light and sound show. This impactful experience has already thrilled visitors in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, and Miami. Become completely immersed in the works of art around you, and feel the shift in reality as you dive deep into the world created by Van Gogh’s brush strokes.
Imprinting in Time USC Pacific Asia Museum 46 N Los Robles Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101
Imprinting in Time – Chinese Printmaking at the Beginning of a New Era surveys printmaking by Chinese artists from the 1980s to the present, examining the unique narrative of the medium within the contexts of cultural, academic, sociopolitical and economic changes in recent Chinese history. Established in 1971, the USC Pacific Asia Museum is one of few U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. In its brief history, the museum has organized and presented a number of groundbreaking exhibitions, including the first North American exhibitions of contemporary Chinese art after the Revolution.
POKÉMON X KOGEI Japan House 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Playful images of Pikachu, Rowlet, Litten and Popplio stencil-dyed onto silk cloth, a Charizard integrated into a large ceramic jar, and a dazzling Jolteon sculpted from individual pieces of gold-and silver-plated copper hammered into the shape of lightning bolts – these are some of the ingenious creations in POKÉMON X KOGEI | Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft, the new exhibition at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles. The exhibition brings together two of Japan’s most celebrated contributions to world culture – beloved characters from one of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises and craft that has evolved and been refined over centuries.
L.A. Underwater Natural History Museum 900 W Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007
Before it was the vibrant city we know, Los Angeles was underwater for over 90 million years. Dive into this multimedia-rich, immersive exhibition and discover L.A.’s prehistoric past through the stories of nearly 40 fossils that are uncovering the secrets of our submerged prehistory. Many of these fossils were found by everyday Angelenos – from construction workers unearthing over 2,000 fish fossils while working on the Metro line to museum neighbors discovering a whale skull while digging an irrigation ditch in Lincoln Heights.
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Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody The Broad 221 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Broad presents the first-ever museum exhibition in Los Angeles of Keith Haring’s expansive body of work and features over 120 artworks and archival materials. Known for his use of vibrant color, energetic line work, and iconic characters, like the barking dog and the radiant baby, Haring’s work continues to dissolve barriers between art and life, and spread joy, all while being rooted in the creative spirit and mission of his subway drawings and renowned public murals.
Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Rooms The Broad 221 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Two of Yayoi Kusama’s groundbreaking Infinity Mirror Rooms are in The Broad collection. Kusama’s Longing for Eternity (2017) currently is on view. Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away (2013) is open with reservations required in advance. Born and raised in Japan, Yayoi Kusama has consistently created artwork about repetition and the concept of infinity. In 1965, Kusama produced her first Infinity Mirror Room, creating the illusion of infinite space using mirrors. Since then, Kusama has made more than twenty unique rooms.
Mr Brainwash Art Museum 455 N Beverly Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210
The appropriately named “Mr Brainwash Art Museum” is the current pop-up exhibit in the once Paley Center of Media building. Artiste extraordinaire Thierry Guetta, aka Mr Brainwash, acquired the museum to develop it into a vibrant exhibit of his own works and those of other artists whom he admires – similar to his 2018 New York City pop-up exhibit which included paintings, sculptures and multi-media displays “brainwashed” with his signature uplifting commentary, historical imagery, and cornucopia of color.
Photo credits:
Photo #1: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Photo #2: Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure
Photo #3: The Huntington
Photo #4: The Huntington
Photo #5: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Photo #6: USC Pacific Asia Museum
Photo #7: Japan House
Photo #8: Natural History Museum
Photo #9: The Broad
Photo #10: The Broad
Photo #11: Mr Brainwash Art Museum