Visiting The Broad Museum
As a museum junkie SoCal is the place to be. There’s so many to choose from! Even so, sometimes I feel I’ve exhausted the supply and begin pining for the next special exhibition to roll through town. Or better yet, a new museum opening. Recently, it was my lucky day because I attended a press preview of the brand new Broad Museum in Downtown LA.
The Broad was founded by Eli and Edythe Broad – art collectors and philanthropists. This 120,000 square foot museum houses over 2,000 works of contemporary art from leading masters of the genre.
I graduated from college with a degree in art history but my my focus was on Renaissance Art. I just never got into contemporary works. Regardless, I was super excited to see what The Broad had to offer and was one of the first in the new building. Thank goodness because it allowed me one of the first spots in line for the highlight of the collection – Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room – The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away.
Each visitor is allotted 30 seconds in the mirror and light filled box and it is an experience. Going in, I figured I wouldn’t need all 30 seconds. Wrong. It was breathtaking. I was immersed in a world of infinite flashing stars and was completely entranced. Before I knew it, it was time to leave and I was thrust back into the real world.
I then began to wonder around the museum and found several impressive pieces despite myself. Sure, there were rooms that I breezed through having no attachment to the art whatsoever. But these were few and in between and I found myself loving more an more pieces.
Already a fan of Lichtenstein I loved all the pieces on display.
And who can’t smile at a Jeff Koons’ balloon piece?
The whimsical world of Murakami was thoroughly immersive.
And I even found the Warhol’s impressive.
Not too mention various works of artists with whom I was less familiar.
The building itself is a sight to behold with dark cavernous lobbies leading to open, light filled galleries.
I also enjoyed a lunch catered by Otium, the museum restaurant. This is not your standard museum cafe with a fresh farm to table menu that is as delicious as it is trendy. My smoked turkey sandwich with fresh avocado and candied bacon was delicious and the desserts were outstanding. Had my phone not died I might have taken more pictures of the meal than the art.
The Broad is a welcome addition to Downtown and Los Angeles as a whole. I can’t wait to go back and since admission is free, I’m sure I’ll be a frequent visitor.