The Museums Worth Leaving the House For This Summer

There is a particular kind of morning that happens in Southern California museums in June. The crowds haven't arrived yet. The light through the skylights is doing everything the architects intended. And somewhere in the building, there is something on a wall that you weren't expecting and won't easily forget.

This summer, across the region, there are several of those mornings waiting for you.

The Getty Center, Los Angeles Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985 runs through June 14 at the Getty Center — a landmark exhibition examining how photography shaped and was shaped by one of the most transformative cultural movements in American history. If you haven't been yet, go before it closes. The Getty's permanent collection and its hilltop views over the city will keep you there the rest of the afternoon.

The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles Two major exhibitions are running simultaneously at the Hammer this summer. Several Eternities in a Day: Form in the Age of Living Materials runs through August 23, 2026 — a group show exploring what happens when biological and organic materials enter the vocabulary of contemporary art. And Arthur Jafa's The White Album runs through August 30. Jafa is one of the most significant artists working today. This is not a show to skip.

The Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena The Norton Simon houses one of the finest collections of European and Southeast Asian art in the American West — from the Renaissance through the 20th century — in a building that sits right on the Rose Parade route in Pasadena. The sculpture garden alone is worth the trip. Free parking. Bring lunch and plan to stay.

The Broad, Los Angeles Expansive presentations of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jean-Michel Basquiat are all on view at The Broad simultaneously — three artists whose work defines the second half of the 20th century, all under one roof, all in dialogue with each other. It is the kind of program that reminds you why Los Angeles is, quietly, one of the great art cities in the world.

Palm Springs Art Museum A new exhibition opens June 26 at the Palm Springs Art Museum and runs through January 2027 — making it the kind of show you can catch on a summer visit and still be thinking about at Christmas. Pair it with a morning at the Aerial Tramway and you have the perfect Palm Springs day.

David Zwirner, Los Angeles Already featured in our inaugural issue — California Light and Space (The 21st Century Version) opens June 4 and runs through August 1. It remains essential. Free admission. Reserve your time.

Where to Go:

• The Getty Center — 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles | getty.edu
• The Hammer Museum — 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles | hammer.ucla.edu
• The Norton Simon Museum — 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | nortonsimon.org
• The Broad — 221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | thebroad.org
• Palm Springs Art Museum — 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs | psmuseum.org
• David Zwirner — 10034 Capitol Drive, Los Angeles | davidzwirner.com