Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles Museum

Address: Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA

Website: https://www.moca.org

Hours: Typically closed Mondays; check website for current hours

Admission: Adult admission (general paid exhibition pricing) - typically around $15 USD for adults; check MOCA site for current prices and discounts

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is a principal contemporary art museum in Los Angeles, established in 1979 and focused on post-war and contemporary works. MOCA’s collection and exhibitions emphasise painting, sculpture, photography, installation and media art from the late 20th century to the present.

Key attractions include rotating temporary exhibitions of international and local artists and a permanent collection featuring major post-war and contemporary figures. The museum operates significant gallery spaces in downtown Los Angeles and a large-scale exhibition facility in the Little Tokyo area for installations and performance-based work.

MOCA was founded by collectors, artists and patrons to create a major institution for contemporary art in Los Angeles and has grown to hold several thousand works that are used in curated displays and research.

The museum’s primary sites are in downtown Los Angeles on Grand Avenue near the Walt Disney Concert Hall and in the Little Tokyo neighbourhood, providing easy access from central LA and surrounding districts.

• Founded: Founded in 1979 as a museum dedicated to post-war and contemporary art
• Collection size: Holds a permanent collection of several thousand modern and contemporary works including major post-war artists

What to See#

• Geffen Contemporary (Little Tokyo): The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in the Little Tokyo area, a large-scale exhibition space used for installations and performance work.
• Grand Avenue building: The Grand Avenue building in downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall, housing the permanent collection and rotating exhibitions.

MOCA (the Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Avenue) is in downtown Los Angeles on Grand Avenue. Use Metro Rail to 7th Street/Metro Center (Red/Blue/Purple/Expo lines) or Civic Center/Grand Park and walk-typically about 5-10 minutes from 7th Street/Metro Center. The site is also served by multiple Metro bus lines and has nearby paid parking options.

• Check MOCA's website for timed tickets and current exhibition schedules before visiting - special exhibitions often require advance booking and capacity can be controlled.
• Visit on weekday mornings or late afternoons to avoid weekend and school-group crowds common at downtown museums; early weekday visits give you more space for the galleries.
• Use public transit (Downtown LA metro and nearby bus connections) or plan for paid parking - the Grand Avenue location is in the Civic/Arts district where street parking is limited and paid lots are common.
• Look beyond the headline exhibitions: MOCA's rotating contemporary shows often include smaller, less-advertised installations and film programs that many visitors miss unless they check the daily program.