Currently, the concrete walls of LACMA’s new building do not have one artwork. Still, this is undoubtedly the most exciting art destination in Los Angeles this weekend.
A few months ahead of the planned gallery debut in April 2026, and before the facility began installing the artwork, LACMA has allowed a peek at the new David Geffen Gallery on the tunes of the extraordinary Kamasi Washington local performances of local saxophones.
For daily Angeleno, who was lucky enough to secure museum members and tickets, they are divided into 100 or more musicians into 10 performance areas, with each ensemble playing different components of the difference in the six-part jazz sweet harmony. You might catch a Washington solo on the saxophone towards the center of the building, but you can turn the corner and hear the fuss of the brass section and the echoing voices of the choir.
Photo: Michael Giuliano for Time Out Photo: Michael Giuliano for Time Outkamashi Washington
But what about the building itself? Designed by Peter’s Sole of countless mid-century buildings at LACMA on the Eastern Campus, the alternative combines the collection into a 110,000-square-foot amoeba-shaped space on the first floor. It was also published in 2013 and has attracted many strong opinions on everything from its aesthetics to its footprint since its construction began in 2020. So, what is it like to actually step inside (of course, you still have the arts sansense)?
Photo: Michael Giuliano for Time Out Tony Smith, “Smoke”
I was invited to the museum on Thursday for the first of three performances. About an hour before sunset, I passed the familiar spider-like Tony Smith smoke sculpture line, then climbed the long stairs to hang my hooves at David Geffen Gallery (there is an elevator too). I passed the restaurant space on the ground floor and what looked like a future bookstore, but only called out from outside.
However, on the second floor, I was free to roam the whole floor. The building is not divided into traditional rooms. Instead, there are about 20 enclosed galleries towards the center of the structure, but the entire exterior is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Photo: Luckma at Michael Giuliano for Outvid Geffen Gallery Photo: Michael Giuliano for Time Out Map
The scenery is absolutely dreamy and offers a fresh perspective. Each curve reveals a new, unexpected perspective. Overlooking the lake at Lovelaertar Pitt, stretch your eyes out at the bubble-like theatre at the Academy Museum, and literally above the traffic on Wilshire Boulevard.
Photography: Michael Juliano for Lacma Photography: Michael Juliano Generally at La Blair Tar Pitt at David Geffen Gallery in LACMA Photography, Michael Juliano Overview of Wilshire Boulevard at David Geffen Gallery in LACMA
Yes, the building is spread across busy roads (Jeff Coons’ floral split locker sculptures ultimately secure the outside on the south side). It’s difficult to make it clear that you’re shuffling along the museum floor and suddenly crossing the iconic streets. At every point, the architecture frames each view perfectly, and has many poses, for better or worse, especially as the sunset overflows the west with dramatic lighting.
Despite all these windows, it was easy to flip through a bit inside the space, but I think it would be a much less problem when the artwork is actually installed. For now, it’s a lot of unadorned concrete, so if you’re not looking out the window, there’s no other visual clue to place exactly where you’re in it. Without paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations, interior galleries feel raw and empty now, as they are raw and empty. So, you will be restricted from any kind of appropriate decision until the installation process is finished. (You can see how the gallery sees art on the LACMA site.)
Photo: Michael Juliano for Time Outthavid Geffen Galleries at LacmaPhoto: Michael Juliano for Time Outdavid Geffen Galleries at LACMA
It was dark when Washington’s performance fell. I descended the stairs at the David Geffen Gallery and a row of urban streetlights glowed in the background. Along the way, I thought some angles of the building were more flattering than the others. The profile on the Tar Pits side looks beautiful, but it stands close enough to the west tip, which feels like a low angled selfie. But as I left and looked back at the stairs at night it was as if the entire building was floating. It was strangely peaceful – and it was already difficult to imagine the museum and Wilshire Boulevard without it.
Photo: Michael Juliano for Time Outthavid Geffen Galleries at LACMA
Please check out the photos below a little more. Kamasi Washington continues his performance on Friday and Saturday – unfortunately tickets are sold out – there is a series of member previews of the building. David Geffen Galleries will open in April 2026.
Photo: Michael Juliano for Timeout Photo: Michael Juliano for Timeout Photo: Michael Juliano for Timeout Photo: Michael Juliano for Timeout Photo: Michael Juliano for Timeout
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