250 South Grand Avenue
(213) 626-6222


Devoted exclusively to the collection and display of art from 1940 to the present, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles features the work of regional, national and international artists in all media. The changing exhibitions focus on painting, sculpture, drawings, prints, and photographs along with newer works combining both art and dance, theater, design, architecture, performance, film, video and music.

Over the years, acquisitions and gifts of various benefactors amassed the vast contemporary collections of MOCA. Twenty exhibitions are presented throughout the year, including historical and thematic shows, one-person retrospectives, and works by emerging and established artists, along with newly commissioned projects.

Panza: The Legacy of a Collector opens December 12^th. Donated to the museum by the Count and Countess Panza di Biumo, this collection features work by a prestigious group of artists, including Jean Fautrier, Franz Kline, Roy Lichtenstein, Ron Griffin, and Roy Thurston.

The permanent collection of MOCA is split between the Geffen Contemporary and the Plaza gallery. Japanese architect Arata Isozaki designed the red sandstone building at MOCA Plaza. In 1982, Los Angeles architect Frank Gehry, who also designed the Guggenheim, transformed a warehouse in Little Tokyo into a temporary space while the permanent home for MOCA was being built a mile away. The Temporary Contemporary, now named for entertainment mogul David Geffen, was such a success that it remains part of the museum facility today.

Home to a specially designed pavilion at the museum's Plaza location, the exhibit presents large-scale models by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The scope and strength of his imaginative designs are part of MOCA's distinguished architecture program, where you can view exterior and interior elements of design in their complete context.

Informal gallery tours offer a brief overview of all the exhibits available. Hook up with a tour at the information centers at both buildings Tuesday through Sunday, at 12 noon, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. Tours last 20 to 30 minutes and no reservations are needed.

To add to your art history knowledge, discussion groups led by artists, art historians, gallery owners, curators, and critics on current exhibitions are offered on selected Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings and are included with museum admission.

Patinette at MOCA, the museum's renowned café at MOCA California Plaza, offers food with a hint of Mediterranean flavor. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Thursday from 11:00 am to 8 pm. The force behind this café's creation is the celebrated chef Joachim Splichal; owner of several acclaimed Los Angeles restaurants.

General admission is $6.00; valid at both buildings on the day purchased. Students and seniors $4.00, children under 12 are admitted free along with members of MOCA.  Admission to the museum is free on Thursday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Hours: 
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm; Thursday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Both museums are closed Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day.

Location of the Museum of Contemporary Art: downtown Los Angeles at MOCA of California Plaza, 250 South Grand Avenue. Location of the Geffen Contemporary: downtown Los Angeles, 152 North Central Avenue. Phone: (213) 626-6222.