DETAILS:

Location: 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024
Hours: Tuesday thru Sunday - 11AM to 6PM
Parking: $8 (with validation) for underground parking lot
Cost: Free!
Time Commitment: 1 hour
MISC:
- The Hammer Museum also hosts a KCRW Summer Concert series. (link provided below under “resources”)

Located in the heart of Westwood, The Hammer Museum is an intimate art institution adjacent to the campus of UCLA . Founded in 1990, the museum is named after philanthropists Armand & Frances Hammer, and focuses on contemporary art of varying disciplines housed in its five main gallery spaces.

The Hammer showcases a constant rotation of exhibits, featuring both established and emerging artists, emphasizing innovative and thought-provoking pieces that reflect the cultural and social climate. A few standouts from our recent visit (July 2023) include Chiharu Shiota’s The Network and her use of red yarn that will make you believe you’ve been transported to the Upside Down of Stranger Things… the emerald-green laser installation of Rita McBride’s Particulates… and Bruce Connor’s Crossroads; a haunting 36 minute slow-motion video loop of reclaimed B&W footage archiving a nuclear weapons test at Bikini Atoll in the summer of 1946.

In addition to its exhibitions, the Hammer Museum hosts a wide array of educational programs and events. These include lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, and performances, which provide opportunities for deeper engagement with the artworks and the ideas they present. The museum also has a research library and an outdoor courtyard that serves as a gathering space for the community.

The Hammer Museum at UCLA is an important cultural institution that offers a vibrant platform for contemporary art in Los Angeles. With its diverse exhibitions, educational programs, and community-focused initiatives, the museum enriches the artistic landscape of the city and provides a space for dialogue, exploration, and appreciation of contemporary art forms.