The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has debuted a long-awaited new building designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, costing $750 million. The museum opened to the public last month with a gala for the David Geffen Galleries, and its charismatic director Michael Govan promises a new vision for how museums show art and relate to the public. Art critic Carolina Miranda joins Artnet News's Ben Davis to discuss the building's significance, having published her own analysis calling it an instant LA icon.
This matters because LACMA is one of the most important museums in the United States, and its controversial new building—debated long before opening—represents a high-stakes test for ambitious museum architecture and institutional reinvention in the 21st century. The outcome could influence how other major museums approach expansion, public engagement, and their role within rapidly changing cities like Los Angeles.