The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has opened its new David Geffen Galleries, a long, elevated concrete structure designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The building, more than 20 years in the making, replaces much of LACMA's mid-century campus with a single winding gallery that hovers above Wilshire Boulevard. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Sunday, followed by a two-week member preview, with the public opening scheduled for May 4. The project is the vision of longtime director Michael Govan, who sought to create a museum without hierarchy, placing objects from different geographies and time periods in dialogue. Artist Mariana Castillo Deball was commissioned to create a plaza installation that incorporates native animal tracks, Mesoamerican imagery, and the labor of migrant workers, reflecting themes of migration and cultural exchange.
This opening matters because it represents a major architectural and curatorial shift for one of the largest art museums in the United States, redefining how visitors engage with art and the surrounding urban landscape. The building's design—transparent, open, and integrated with the city—challenges traditional museum conventions and emphasizes connection rather than removal. Castillo Deball's plaza work also brings contemporary social and political issues, such as immigration and labor, directly into the museum's physical fabric, underscoring LACMA's commitment to art that engages with its time and place. The project solidifies Michael Govan's legacy and sets a new standard for museum architecture and programming.