Hammer Museum

A great museum, free too I might added in Brentwood neighborhood. It’s part of UCLA and on Wilshire Blvd & corner of Westwood Blvd to Glendon Ave (yup, a whole block). It’s very open space, bright and high ceiling reception area, and very modern too. You feel at easy and calm inside compared to hectic and noisy of cars & constructing going on right outside. Their exhibits spread into several different halls from main to 3 floors. You either take the elevator or stairs to go into the courtyard to get to the exhibit halls. The middle area of the museum is open sky with restaurants and gift shops and outdoor exhibit pieces. Very unique and interesting to observed. Currently,”Make in LA” is showing and quite both fascinating and complex, different then you would thought for sure (at least for me). They do have a collections room (founder), that have Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gough, Fantin-Latourand others arts. Such a nice, calm and unique museum.

If you’re short on time in LA, I would see the Getty museum and the LA county museum of art before this. There isn’t much in the way of a permanent collection, but I’ve got multiple temporary exhibitions going on and given a moment in time. I took a lot of representative photos. I did think the Japanese would block prints were pretty good, but most of the rest of it was not really that interesting to me. I hope that you find it very engaging though. The photos will give you a really good idea if it’s for you or not.

I had a VERY Cool LA experience at the HAMMER MUSEUM when I visited on a Thursday October 2025. It was LA vibes from the minute I walked past the restaurant Lulu, it was clearly busy and the clientele looked more sophisticated, hip and local and than any other art gallery cafe that I have experienced. And no wonder looking at the concept in its entirety I could appreciate the whole package (my Trade background is a Chef) I had a fantastic oat hot chocolate at the end of a very stimulating and unique gallery experience and enjoyed people watching through my Australian lense. I could’ve easily spent US$500 on books alone such an inspiring collection. I hate to pick my favourite exhibition but I do have a weak spot for Japanese wood block prints. The Hammer Museum has a fantastic blueprint I look forward to returning one day and schedule in lunch this time!

This an art gallery. Very nice staff and space overall. Entry is free and parking $8 with validation. 2 floors with different galleries that change, if your looking for an exhibit check the website before going. If you're really into art you will enjoy this , if you're not super into art you can skip this. Its free so if you're in the area check it out. I wouldn't suggest dealing with LA traffic to come here, again you really have to be into art. Not a typical musuem if that's what you looking 4.