LACMA's David Geffen Galleries Open with Radical Design and Curatorial Vision
On May 4, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art unveiled the David Geffen Galleries after a two-week preview for members and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Designed by Peter Zumthor, this new structure replaces a significant portion of LACMA's mid-century campus, elegantly spanning above Wilshire Boulevard. Director Michael Govan aims to create a museum that operates without a hierarchical structure, with the inaugural exhibition centered around water features. Artist Mariana Castillo Deball designed a plaza installation addressing migration issues, and Lauren Halsey presented a sphinx-inspired sculpture. The project, which took over 20 years to complete, involved the demolition of four older buildings, a move that faced criticism from preservationists. The opening gala included various performances, and Govan believes the building's durability offsets ecological concerns.
Key facts
- The David Geffen Galleries opened to the public on May 4.
- Designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.
- Director Michael Govan joined LACMA in 2006 and led the project.
- The inaugural installation is organized around four oceans: Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Pacific.
- Artist Mariana Castillo Deball created a plaza installation with Quetzalcoatl imagery and migrant worker involvement.
- Four mid-century buildings were demolished: Ahmanson, Bing, Art of the Americas, and Hammer.
- Local artist Lauren Halsey contributed a sculpture blending ancient Egyptian and South Central LA influences.
- Custom curtains by Reiko Sudo of NUNO Corporation soften natural light in the galleries.
Entities
Artists
- Mariana Castillo Deball
- Michael Govan
- Peter Zumthor
- 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
- David Geffen Galleries
- Seki Foundation
- Mona Khan Company
- NUNO Corporation
- Wallis Annenberg Photography Department
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Wilshire Boulevard
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Teotihuacan
- Switzerland
- Colombia
- Kutunsama
- South Central Los Angeles