LACMA showcases new space for art at Geffen Gallery
ROOMS MADE TO HANG ART are less fluid with mostly box-like hard edges.
LACMA’s new David Geffen Gallery, designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, was
EXTERIOR OF GEFFEN GALLERY at LACMA with Tony Smith’s “Smoke” (1967) in foreground.
on display for members and press only in July. The floating horizontal glass and concrete building, which spans Wilshire Boulevard, offers panoramic views of Hancock Park and Miracle Mile in all directions. Entire stretches of the building are made of glass walls, tipping the eye of the patron toward the Tar Pits and across to the Hollywood Hills. Art will be hung within the interior rooms (also made out of concrete), but made with hard, sharp, flat concrete edges—a strong contrast to the organic exterior structure.
Scheduled to open to the public in April 2026, docent James Canto said, “With LACMA being an encyclopedic museum, this particular building will have our permanent collection. Much of that has been off view for three to five years.”
LONG OPEN CORRIDORS with winding glass walls look out on panoramic views.
At the member preview, Los Angeles local architect Jim Eserts and fellow architect Chris White shared with us their feelings of the extraordinary addition. Eserts said, “Experiencing the roof and that wall of glass around the perimeter is amazing because you undulate all the way around. I don’t know why the interior spaces didn’t relate as well (moving organically), because concrete is a completely malleable material.” Concrete can be formed to any shape. White added, “But walls for art? (Needing to be flat?).” Eserts said, “Yes, look at the Guggenheim in New York, where the art is hung on walls that have movement.” Both laughed and added, “Well, that’s not the best example!” Not a favorite of the two architects.
ENTIRE LENGTHS OF THE BUILDING made with glass walls look out across the city.
Another docent shared that the ground floor will house a gift shop, a restaurant and education spaces.
The unfinished connecting space south of Wilshire Boulevard will house the Steven Tisch Theatre, which will continue LACMA’s film screenings, lectures and concerts.
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