The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is set to inaugurate its long-awaited David Geffen Galleries with a gala and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the 900-foot-long horizontal structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and features a single-level exhibition space elevated 30 feet above the ground. The inaugural installation, curated by a team of 45, moves away from traditional chronological and geographical silos in favor of thematic, interconnected narratives that reflect the diversity of modern Los Angeles.
This opening marks the culmination of a decade-long, $750 million campus transformation led by CEO Michael Govan. By eschewing rigid hierarchies and a traditional main entrance, the building's design and curatorial approach aim to redefine the 21st-century museum experience. The project represents a significant shift in how major encyclopedic institutions present global art history, emphasizing fluid movement and evolving perspectives over static, Western-centric classifications.