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Museum of Contemporary Art

Photo Credit: LACVB

American novelist Theodore Dreiser once said, “Art is the stored honey of the human soul.” If that’s true, one of the sweetest locations in this country is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. It’s one of best places in the country to view works created since the1940s by American and European masters.

MOCA’s exhibits focus on contemporary architecture and design, and new works by artists at the beginning and/or height of their careers. Their extensive collection of exhibits in a variety of media includes abstract expressionism; pop art; minimalist, post-minimalist and neo-expressionist painting; sculpture; photography and drawings; and recent works by young artists. It is housed in three separate locations in the Los Angeles area.

The MOCA building at California Plaza is work of art in itself. It’s an award-winning architectural treasure made of uncommon forms, such as pyramids, cubes, and cylinders. Step inside and the permanent collection greets you with a veritable “who’s who” in contemporary art, including Diane Arbus, William deKooning, David Hockney, Joan Miro, Piet Mondrian, Louise Nevelson, Jackson Pollack, Julian Schnabel, and Andy Warhol. The second site, which is five minutes from California Plaza in Little Tokyo, is the Geffen Contemporary, a former warehouse that allows for interactive installations due to its larger size. The museum’s third location is a two-acre outdoor plaza located at the Pacific Design Center, which is affectionately known as the “blue whale” because of its blue, round structure.

Location
MOCA at California Plaza is located at 250 South Grand Avenue, and MOCA at the Geffen Contemporary is located at 152 North Central Avenue, both in Los Angeles. MOCA at the Pacific Design Center is located at 8687 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. Directions and maps to each location are available at the museum’s Web site.

Hours of operation
Tuesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Closing hours are extended until 8 p.m. on Thursday.

The museum is closed on Mondays, and New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Cost
Adults $8
Students (with ID) $5
Seniors (ages 65+) $5
Children (under 12) Free
Groups of 10 or more, per person $5

Admission is free for all on Thursdays between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Contact information and reservations
For general information, call (213) 626-6222. Reservations for groups of 10 or more must be made at least 10 days in advance by calling Visitor Services at (213) 621-1741.

Disabled access

• All locations are accessible to people with disabilities. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• A sign language interpreter is available for groups of five or more. You must request this at least five days in advance.

Special considerations
Each ticket is valid at California Plaza and Geffen Contemporary on the date of purchase, but can be used at the Pacific Design Center within 30 days.

Additional information
Visit the MOCA Web site.

Please note
Cost, hours of operation, or other information about this attraction is subject to change without notice. We suggest you confirm with the attraction prior to your visit.