Los Angeles Art Scene Overview

Los Angeles

The Los Angeles art scene is experiencing a significant transformation as major blue-chip galleries like Gagosian and PaceWildenstein expand their presence in the city. This shift is driven by the influx of entertainment industry wealth and a growing interest from Hollywood figures, despite a historically smaller collector base compared to New York. Key institutional developments include Eli Broad's financial interventions to stabilize MOCA and fund new building schemes at LACMA.

Want to check out LACMA’s new building? Here’s how you can get tickets—for free

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is set to open its highly anticipated David Geffen Galleries to the public on May 4, 2026, following a members-only preview starting April 19. Designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, the $724 million, 110,000-square-foot concrete structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and houses the museum's permanent collection in a single-floor layout. The opening will be celebrated with a public block party on June 20, featuring free admission, tours, and live performances.

V&A East Museum: Inside London’s New Venue In Stratford

The V&A East Museum is set to open in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a major new cultural hub for East London. Housed in a striking five-story building designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey—inspired by the couture tailoring of Cristóbal Balenciaga—the museum features two permanent galleries titled "Why We Make" and a dedicated space for major temporary exhibitions. The site emphasizes accessibility with a barrier-free entrance and a collection of over 500 objects spanning art, design, and performance, curated to highlight themes like social justice and environmental action.

Gagosian To Open New UES Gallery With Duchamp Show

Gagosian is expanding its presence on the Upper East Side with the opening of a new ground-floor gallery at 980 Madison Avenue on April 25. The inaugural exhibition features the iconic readymades of Marcel Duchamp, including the 1964 editions of works like "Fountain." This opening marks a return to a historic location for the gallery, which previously utilized the building as its headquarters for over three decades.

'Georg Baselitz' at White Cube, Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom on 10 Jun–1 Aug 2026

White Cube Bermondsey is set to host a major exhibition of new large-scale paintings and works on paper by the renowned German artist Georg Baselitz in the summer of 2026. The showcase features his signature upside-down compositions across diverse themes, including Indian deities, portraits of his wife Elke, and the symbolic eagle motif, often set against luminous gold or sky-blue backgrounds. This presentation follows his successful 2024 show at the gallery and highlights the artist's continued exploration of human and animal forms through a raw, expressive lens.

Andy Warhol | Kiku Flowers (with hardback exhibition book, “edition club” order forms) (1984) | Available for Sale

APC ART has announced the exclusive sale of a rare 1984 Andy Warhol screenprint titled "Kiku Flowers." The work originates from a limited edition of 1,500 produced for a landmark exhibition at the Gendai Hanga Center in Tokyo and is being offered as a comprehensive historical package. The sale includes the original cloth-bound exhibition catalog and primary source documents, such as the original "edition club" order forms used for the Kiku suite.

Forget Masterpieces—Show Me Everything

The Victoria & Albert Museum has launched the V&A Storehouse in East London, a massive open-storage facility housing over 250,000 objects, 1,000 archives, and a vast library. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Austin-Smith:Lord, the space eschews traditional curated narratives in favor of a dense, immersive environment where visitors navigate four stories of artifacts arranged by cataloging logic rather than art-historical themes.

Pilar Corrias now represents Alexis Ralaivao

London gallery Pilar Corrias has announced the representation of French painter Alexis Ralaivao in partnership with New York-based Olney Gleason. The announcement coincides with Ralaivao’s debut UK solo exhibition, "Flirter avec l’abstrait," which is currently on view at the gallery’s Conduit Street location in Mayfair. Ralaivao is recognized for his intimate, diaristic oil paintings that blend 17th-century Dutch technical precision with contemporary emotional depth.

Last chance! Four excellent London exhibitions close this weekend

Four major art exhibitions are scheduled to conclude their London runs on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The closing shows include the high-profile 'Turner & Constable: Rivals and Originals' at Tate Britain, the 'Theatre Picasso' centenary celebration at Tate Modern, and the 'New Contemporaries' showcase of emerging talent at the South London Gallery.

HOSOO to Present “Glorious Robe,” a Collaborative Exhibition with Theaster Gates

Kyoto-based textile house HOSOO has announced a collaborative exhibition with American artist Theaster Gates titled “Glorious Robe,” scheduled to run from April 11 to August 30, 2026. The showcase centers on the “Dashikimono,” a hybrid garment merging the West African dashiki with the Japanese kimono, alongside ceramic vessels and traditional obi sashes. These works incorporate motifs from the American Civil Rights Movement, including tributes to Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, woven directly into the fabric using HOSOO’s centuries-old Nishijin techniques.

Brilliant Things to Do This April

April 2026 marks a significant month for global art exhibitions, featuring major retrospectives and site-specific installations across Rome, Seoul, London, and Paris. Highlights include Gagosian Rome’s exploration of Francesca Woodman’s surrealist photography, a homecoming retrospective for video-art pioneer Nam June Paik in Seoul, and Senga Nengudi’s performance-based sculptures at London’s Whitechapel Gallery. Additionally, Isaac Julien will debut a new moving-image work at The Cosmic House, while the Fondation Louis Vuitton prepares a large-scale exhibition dedicated to Alexander Calder’s kinetic sculptures.

Artist Lee Bae's solo exhibit questions his understanding of art and interrogates his farming roots

South Korean artist Lee Bae has opened a major solo exhibition titled "En attendant: Waiting" at Museum SAN in Wonju. The show features 39 works, including his signature "Issu du feu" charcoal sculptures and massive 10-meter-tall bronze "Brushstroke" installations placed within the museum's Stone Garden. The exhibition is designed to harmonize with the unique architecture of Tadao Ando, utilizing natural light and the surrounding mountain landscape to create a meditative experience for visitors.

NGV Has Been Named As One Of The Most Visited Art Museums In 2025, Ranking Among Other Notable Sites Like The Louvre And Tate Modern

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has secured its position as Australia’s most visited art museum, ranking 25th globally in The Art Newspaper’s 2025 attendance report. The institution welcomed over 3 million visitors across its two Melbourne locations, bolstered significantly by a record-breaking Yayoi Kusama retrospective that drew 570,537 attendees. This blockbuster exhibition became the most popular ticketed show in the gallery's history, attracting international celebrities and a high percentage of overseas tourists.

AGB Museum in Lakeland stages its largest student art exhibit

The Ashley Gibson Barnett (AGB) Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida, has launched its largest-ever student art exhibition, featuring 187 award-winning works from Polk County students in grades seven through twelve. The showcase includes regional and national winners of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards across various media, including ceramics, photography, and digital painting. Notably, eighth-grader Sophia De La Cruz’s mixed-media piece, "Blast of Emotions," was selected for the museum’s permanent collection, placing her work alongside masters like David Hockney and Robert Rauschenberg.

The most inspiring art exhibitions in Paris for April 2026

Paris is hosting a series of major exhibitions in April 2026, headlined by a significant Alexander Calder retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton and the final weeks of the Art Deco centenary celebration at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The city's cultural landscape is further bolstered by permanent and long-term displays, including the archival fashion history at La Galerie Dior and the immersive Water Lilies cycle by Claude Monet at the Musée de l'Orangerie.

Tate Modern opens largest ever exhibition of Tracey Emin's work

Tate Modern has launched "Tracey Emin: A Second Life," the largest survey exhibition of the British artist’s work to date. Spanning 40 years of her career, the show features over 100 works including her iconic 1998 installation "My Bed," early textile pieces, and recent bronze sculptures. The exhibition, supported by Gucci, traces Emin’s journey from the Young British Artists (YBA) era to her contemporary practice, which addresses her recent experiences with cancer and disability.

Exhibitions to see during Art Basel Hong Kong

Hong Kong's gallery scene is hosting a series of major solo exhibitions to coincide with the 2026 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong. Key highlights include Qiu Anxiong’s Daoist-inspired animations at Pearl Lam Projects, Mary Weatherford’s Asian debut at Gagosian featuring neon-infused canvases inspired by the myth of Persephone, and Walter Price’s first solo show in the region at David Zwirner. These exhibitions showcase a mix of established Chinese contemporary art and high-profile international painters entering the Asian market.

Ruth Asawa: Retrospective

A major retrospective of the Japanese-American artist Ruth Asawa is touring internationally, organized through a partnership between SFMOMA and MoMA. The exhibition spans six decades of her career, featuring her iconic suspended looped-wire sculptures alongside tied-wire pieces, bronze casts, drawings, and archival materials. The show traces her journey from her formative years at Black Mountain College to her influential role as an arts advocate and educator in San Francisco.

Spring Arts Guide 2026: The Visual Art Exhibitions Making a Splash This Season

The Spring Arts Guide 2026 highlights several major exhibitions opening in the Washington D.C. area, ranging from local photography to expansive collection surveys. Alan Sislen’s 'AMBIGUITY' at Multiple Exposures Gallery explores architectural abstraction, while the National Museum of Women in the Arts hosts 'Making Their Mark,' a traveling exhibition of the Shah Garg Collection featuring luminaries like Howardena Pindell and Joan Semmel. Additionally, the National Museum of African Art presents 'Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,' a landmark show centering queer voices within the African diaspora.

Racine Art Museum’s annual PEEPS®-inspired art exhibition is bigger and bolder than ever

The Racine Art Museum (RAM) has announced the 17th edition of its annual PEEPS® Brand Art Exhibition, running from April 1–18, 2026. This community-driven show features artworks made from or inspired by the iconic marshmallow candy, utilizing diverse media such as glass fusing, 3-D printing, and woodworking. This year’s iteration is the largest to date, expanding into a bigger gallery space and introducing a series of satellite events including an awards ceremony and a sensory-friendly day.

The 21 best art galleries to explore in Australia to get lost in

This comprehensive guide highlights the 21 premier art institutions across Australia, ranging from major state museums to specialized private galleries. The selection features iconic venues such as the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, which houses the world’s largest collection of Indigenous art, and David Walsh’s subversive Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Tasmania. The list serves as a roadmap for navigating the country's diverse artistic landscape, including contemporary Chinese art at White Rabbit Gallery and significant Aboriginal works at the Araluen Arts Centre.

School of London Masterworks Drive Sotheby’s £131M Modern & Contemporary Sale

Sotheby’s kicked off the spring auction season in London with a Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale that generated £131 million ($177.4 million) including fees. The auction saw a high 98 percent sell-through rate, bolstered by the sale of four significant works from the collection of financier Joe Lewis. The top lot was Francis Bacon’s 1972 "Self-Portrait," which fetched £16.03 million, while a new auction record was established for Leon Kossoff.

London art market springs back to life in Sotheby's Modern and contemporary evening sale

Sotheby’s Modern and contemporary evening sale in London signaled a resilient recovery for the UK art market, totaling £131 million with fees and achieving a 98% sell-through rate. Despite geopolitical tensions and post-Brexit economic concerns, the auction room was notably crowded, driven by high-profile works from the collection of billionaire Joe Lewis. The evening's top lot was a 1972 Francis Bacon self-portrait, which sold for £16 million, while a major painting by Leon Kossoff shattered the artist's previous auction record.

LACMA’s Long-Awaited Geffen Galleries Are Set To Open This April, Featuring 3,000 Objects

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that its highly anticipated David Geffen Galleries will officially open on April 19, 2026. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the 110,000-square-foot horizontal structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and represents the culmination of a multi-decade campus expansion. The inaugural installation will feature approximately 3,000 objects curated by a team of 45, showcasing a non-traditional, integrated approach to the museum's permanent collection.

Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale Springs To Life

Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale in London achieved a robust total of £131 million, more than doubling the results of the previous year's equivalent auction. The event was characterized by a high 98% sell-through rate and was anchored by significant single-owner collections, most notably works from billionaire Joe Lewis. Highlights included a Francis Bacon self-portrait that fetched £16 million and a record-breaking sale for Leon Kossoff, whose "Children’s Swimming Pool, Autumn Afternoon" sold for £5.2 million, nearly four times his previous auction record.

Henry Moore's King and Queen leads Christie's 20th/21st Century London sales

Christie’s London evening sales achieved a combined total of £197.5 million ($263.8 million) on March 5, 2026, representing a 52 percent increase year-on-year. The night was headlined by Henry Moore’s monumental bronze sculpture 'King and Queen', which sold for a record-breaking £26.3 million after an eight-minute bidding war. The event also debuted a new auction rostrum designed by Sir Jony Ive’s creative collective, LoveFrom, marking the house's 260th anniversary.

A brush with… Danh Vo—podcast

Conceptual artist Danh Vo discusses his multifaceted practice in a new podcast interview, exploring how his work weaves together personal autobiography, queer identity, and his experience as a Vietnamese immigrant. The conversation delves into his collaborative methods, his use of found objects ranging from religious sculptures to household items, and his upcoming exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and White Cube in New York.

New York Galleries: Openings and Closings (03/03-03/08)

The New York City gallery scene is experiencing a significant surge of activity for the first week of March 2026, with dozens of new exhibitions scheduled to open across Manhattan. Major highlights include a survey of Edouard Vuillard’s early interiors at Skarstedt, Sigmar Polke at VeneKlasen, and a comprehensive Robert Mapplethorpe presentation at Gladstone. The week also features high-profile institutional and blue-chip gallery shows, including Carol Bove at the Guggenheim and new works by Daniel Arsham and Gelitin at Perrotin.

5 Artists We Discovered at Felix Art Fair 2026

The eighth edition of the Felix Art Fair returned to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in February 2026, featuring 57 galleries with a significant emphasis on Los Angeles-based talent. The fair maintained its signature intimate atmosphere, utilizing hotel rooms, cabanas, and the iconic David Hockney-designed pool area to showcase a diverse range of contemporary works. This year's iteration saw a high influx of new participants, with over 20 galleries making their debut at the event.

Expert Eye: curator Cornelia Stokes’s Frieze LA favourites

Cornelia Stokes, the newly appointed assistant curator of the art of the African Diaspora at SFMoMA and MoAD, shares her top selections from Frieze Los Angeles. Her picks highlight a diverse range of artists including Narsiso Martinez, Ebony G. Patterson, Hugh Hayden, and Kenturah Davis, focusing on themes of migrant labor, the African Diaspora, and the intersection of personal history with material culture.