LACMA Opens New David Geffen Galleries After 20-Year Construction
On April 22, 2026, the David Geffen Galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) were inaugurated after 20 years of development. Created by architect Peter Zumthor, the structure consists of a 300-meter-long slab resting on seven concrete pavilions, offering 32,000 m² of exhibition space across 90 galleries. A free 'park level' underneath makes the museum accessible to everyone. The opening exhibition, curated by 45 conservators, focuses on the world's oceans, emphasizing migration and trade. The design features a 4,366 m² glass promenade, natural skylights, and unique shapes inspired by tar pits. The overall expenditure reached $720 million, with a $150 million donation from David Geffen.
Key facts
- LACMA inaugurated David Geffen Galleries on April 22, 2026
- Construction took 20 years above Wilshire Boulevard
- Architect: Peter Zumthor (Swiss)
- Building features a 300-meter horizontal slab
- Seven raw concrete pavilions support the structure
- 32,000 m² exhibition space in 90 open-plan galleries
- Free 'park level' below is open to all
- Inaugural hang organized around four oceans: Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Mediterranean
- 45 conservators curated the collection
- Exhibition focuses on migration, trade, and cultural syncretism
- Picasso, Warhol, pre-Columbian pottery, Dogon sculptures, Andean textiles, Japanese ivories included
- No hierarchical composition; no grand entrance
- 4,366 m² glass promenade serves as gallery and belvedere
- Raw concrete with triangular ceiling patterns, hand-made wall striations, textured floors
- Natural skylights in central halls
- Form inspired by nearby tar pits; Zumthor compares to bitumen puddle
- Critics call it a 'highway blob'; supporters praise as 24-hour civic infrastructure
- Total cost: $720 million (€612 million)
- David Geffen contributed $150 million (€127 million)
- Los Angeles County funded substantial share of public works
Entities
Artists
- Peter Zumthor
- Mariana Castillo Deball
- Michael Govan
- Lauren Halsey
- Pedro Reyes
- Reiko Sudo
- Britt Salvesen
- T Bone Burnett
- Bob Dylan
- Mamo Camilo
- Francis Bacon
- Henri Matisse
Institutions
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- David Geffen Galleries
- Atelier Peter Zumthor
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Seki Foundation
- Mona Khan Company
- NUNO Corporation
- Wallis Annenberg Photography Department
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Wilshire Boulevard
- Hancock Park
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Teotihuacan
- Switzerland
- Colombia
- Kutunsama
- South Central Los Angeles