The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

A vital arbiter of new art, architecture, and design with a history of presenting groundbreaking exhibitions, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), showcases the most ambitious and challenging art of our time by emerging and mid-career artists, as well as iconic works from its world-renowned permanent collection in three distinct buildings. As Los Angeles's only institution devoted to art created from 1940 to the present, MOCA holds one of the country's finest collections of American and European art with roughly 6,000 objects of various visual mediums -- ranging from masterpieces of abstract expressionism and pop art to recent works by young and emerging artists.

MOCA Grand Avenue (250 S. Grand Ave.), which has received numerous design accolades, is a contemporary red sandstone structure by renowned Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. Also at the Grand Avenue location is the museum's popular restaurant, Lemonade (Mon and Fri 11am-5pm, Thurs 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm; tel. 213/628-0200).

The museum's second space, on Central Avenue in Little Tokyo (152 N. Central Ave.), was the "Temporary Contemporary" while the Grand structure was being built and now presents rotating exhibits in a warehouse-type space that's been renamed the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, for entertainment mogul and art collector David Geffen. Unless there's a visiting exhibit of great interest at the main museum, I recommend that you start at the Geffen building, where it's also easier to park.

The museum's third venue is MOCA Pacific Design Center (8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood) -- it's the compact building next to the Pacific Design Center. Unlike the other two, admission to this gallery is free, and emphasis is on contemporary architecture and design, as well as new work by emerging and established artists.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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