The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that its new David Geffen Galleries will officially open to the public on May 4, 2025. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the $724 million "curvaceous concrete sandwich" spans Wilshire Boulevard and replaces four previous buildings. The inaugural exhibition, organized by a massive team of forty-five curators, will forgo traditional chronological displays in favor of a thematic framework centered on global oceanic exchange, featuring both permanent collection highlights and new commissions from contemporary artists like Lauren Halsey and Do Ho Suh.
This opening marks the culmination of a contentious twelve-year development process marked by rising costs, pandemic delays, and significant architectural debate. While critics have praised the building's innovative form and panoramic city views, others have raised concerns regarding its reduced gallery space and potential lighting issues for sensitive artworks. As one of the most expensive and high-profile museum projects in recent American history, the success of the Geffen Galleries will serve as a major test for LACMA’s unconventional approach to encyclopedic art presentation and its standing within the global cultural landscape.