LACMA's Peter Zumthor-designed building opens with $720M budget and controversial thematic galleries
This weekend marks the debut of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's new structure, crafted by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The project, which cost $720 million, was overseen by museum director Michael Govan and surpassed its original budget of $650 million. Contributions included $150 million from David Geffen, $50 million from Elaine Wynn, and $125 million from taxpayers in LA County. The David Geffen Galleries offer 110,000 square feet dedicated to thematic exhibitions that merge contemporary and classical art. Outdoor installations feature Tony Smith's "Smoke" and Jeff Koons's "Split-Rocker." Beneath the galleries, an Erewhon cafe operates. Diana Magaloni highlighted the aim to spark curiosity, despite criticism regarding the space and layout. The Ahmanson Foundation halted donations in 2020 due to concerns about LACMA's future.
Key facts
- LACMA's new building opens this weekend after years of planning and construction
- Designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, his first building in the US
- Project budget ballooned to $720 million from an initial $650 million
- David Geffen donated $150 million, the largest individual cash gift in museum history
- The David Geffen Galleries provide 110,000 square feet on a single level 30 feet above street level
- 78 galleries are organized thematically around bodies of water rather than traditional categories
- The Ahmanson Foundation stopped donating art to LACMA in 2020 over concerns about the new direction
- Outdoor installations include works by Tony Smith, Alexander Calder, Jeff Koons, and Mariana Castillo Deball
Entities
Artists
- Michael Govan
- Peter Zumthor
- David Geffen
- Elaine Wynn
- Mariana Castillo Deball
- Jeff Koons
- Lynda Resnick
- Stewart Resnick
- Tony Smith
- Alexander Calder
- Bruce Goff
- Todd Gray
- Octavia Butler
- Diego Rivera
- Lauren Halsey
- Kees Van Dongen
- Paul Cadmus
- Reiko Sudō
- Roni Horn
- Francis Bacon
- Lucian Freud
- Andreas Gursky
- Diana Magaloni
- Mary Lue
- Effie Jackson
- Rosie Lee Tompkins
- Steve Tisch
- Naima Keith
- Mark Bradford
- Lisa Reihana
- Ana Mendieta
- Rose B. Simpson
- Abraham Cruzvillegas
- Cézanne
- Degas
- Manet
- Modigliani
- Sisley
- Soutine
- Toulouse-Lautrec
- Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr.
- Alejandro G. Iñárritu
- Alfonso Gonzalez Jr.
- Henry Pearlman
- Rose Pearlman
- Michael Heizer
- Pieter Saenredam
- Adolf Loos
- Tino Sehgal
- Han Youngsoo
- Miles Davis
- Charlie Parker
- Chris Burden
- Liz Glynn
- Rodin
- Georges de La Tour
- Henri Matisse
- Refik Anadol
- Glenn D. Lowry
- Robin Pogrebin
- Damien Maloney
- I.M. Pei
- Reiko Sudo
- Do Ho Suh
- Tavares Strachan
- Sarah Rosalena
- Pedro Reyes
- Auguste Rodin
Institutions
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Ahmanson Foundation
- Erewhon
- Hyperallergic
- The Guardian
- Los Angeles Times
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- LACMA
- David Geffen Galleries
- Los Angeles County
- Dia Beacon
- Hammer Museum
- Genesis
- Hyundai
- Qatar Museums
- Museo Nacional de Antropología
- W.M. Keck Education Center
- NexGenLA
- Brooklyn Museum
- MoMA
- Henry and Rose Pearlman Collection
- FIFA
- LA Metro
- Museum Associates
- LA Times
- Save Lacma
- Academy Museum
- Natural History Museum
- Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
- The Broad
- DreamWorks
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- Museum of Modern Art
- The New York Times
- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
- Galerie Magazine
- Ray's and Stark Bar
- LACMA Store
- Steve Tisch Theater
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Wilshire Boulevard
- Central Valley
- Southern California
- Pacific Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Indian Ocean
- Mediterranean Sea
- Latin America
- Kashmir
- Damascus
- La Brea Tar Pits
- Hudson Valley
- Upstate New York
- South Korea
- Qatar
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Guadalajara
- Seoul
- Japan
- Asia
- India
- Germany
- Europe
- Americas
- Kendall Concourse
- Nevada desert
- South Central LA
- Utrecht
- California
- Berlin
- Switzerland
- Paris
- Exposition Park
- New York
- Miracle Mile
- Hancock Park
- Tokyo