SoCal museums in December: ‘Dining with the Sultan,’ WPA-era paintings, prints and more
SoCal museums in December: ‘Dining with the Sultan,’ WPA-era paintings, prints and more
LACMA serves up two new exhibitions, the Huntington gets down to work, and someday my prints will come at the Hammer
Welcome to December’s TV or Not TV roundup of new and noteworthy exhibitions and events, as well as continuing shows, at museums all around Southern California. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the LA Times’ Calendar section.
The galleries are now open…
• New and upcoming
The Huntington “Art for the People: WPA-Era Paintings from the Dijkstra Collection,” works created in the U.S. between the Wall Street Crash of ’29 and WWII are on display Dec. 2 thru March 18. Also on view: “Printed in 1085: The Chinese Buddhist Canon from the Song Dynasty,” thru Dec. 4; “In Our Time: Prints by R.B. Kitaj,” thru March 4; “Paintings in Print: Studying Art in China,” thru May 27; “Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight,” thru Nov. 25, 2025. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Closed Tuesdays. $13-$29; children younger than 4, free; reservations required Friday-Sunday, holidays and peak seasonsm, and recommended for weekdays; no walk-ins; limited daily capacity. (626) 405-2100. huntington.org
Los Angeles County Museum of Art “Imagined Fronts: The Great War and Global Media,” exploring representations of WWI through posters, photography, film, etc., on view Dec. 3 thru July 7; and “Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting,” depictions of culinary traditions in Islamic art, plus dinnerware, etc., on view Dec. 17 thru Aug. 4. Also on view: “Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction”, thru Jan. 21; “The World Made Wondrous: The Dutch Collector’s Cabinet and the Politics of Possession,” thru March 3; and “Painting in the River of Angels: Judy Baca and The Great Wall,” thru June 2; “Vincent Valdez and Ry Cooder: El Chavez Ravine,” mural painted on a 1950s ice cream truck, thru Aug. 11. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Closed Wednesdays. $10-$25; ages 2 and younger are free; L.A. County youth (17 and younger) and one guest, free; free after 3 p.m. weekdays for L.A. County residents with valid ID. (323) 857-6010. lacma.org
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County “100 Carats: Icons of the Gem World,” rare and priceless gemstones, including the fabled Jonker I Diamond, will be on display Dec. 8 thru April 21. Also on view: “Becoming Los Angeles,” ongoing. NHMLAC, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A. Closed the first Tuesday each month. $8-$17; ages 2 and younger are free; advanced, online tickets recommended. nhm.org
The Hammer “Groove: Artists and Intaglio Prints, 1500 to Now,” etchings, engravings, etc. by Dürer, Rembrandt, Picasso, et al. are on view Dec. 16 thru June 16. Also on view: “Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living,” the sixth iteration of the Hammer’s biennial exhibition, thru Dec. 31; “Rita McBride: Particulates,” multimedia installation, thru March 3. UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Closed Mondays. Free. (323) 443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu
• Events
World AIDS Day 2023 Scripps College associate professor Jih-Fei Cheng speaks on “HIV/AIDS and COVID-19: Intersectionality and Internationalism” followed by a screening of “Day With(out) Art 2023: Everyone I Know Is Sick.” Benton Museum of Art, Pomona College, 120 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont. 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Free. Details at pomona.edu
‘The Buddha’s Compassion and the Garden of Eden’ A lecture by Dr. Donald M. Stadtner, former associate professor, University of Texas, Austin. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Free with museum admission ($15, $20; students, active-duty military and ages 18 and under, free). (626) 449-6840. Details at nortonsimon.org
‘L.A. at Play Day’ This family friendly celebration of toys, dolls, action figures, figurines, etc. and the people who create and/or collect them includes vendor pop-ups, puppetry, panel discussions, live DJ sets and more. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A. 9:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Free with museum admission ($8-$17; ages 2 and younger are free; advanced, online tickets recommended). nhm.org
‘Perspectives on Black-Jewish Relations in the Fight for Civil Rights’ A conversation between veteran civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. and L.A. City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5. Free; RSVP strongly recommended. skirball.org
‘The Anne Frank Gift Shop’ Filmmaker and author Mickey Rapkin (“Pitch Perfect”) will take part in a discussion following a screening of his darkly comic short film. Holocaust Museum LA, 100 The Grove Drive, L.A. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. Free. RSVP at holocaustmuseumla.org
• Continuing
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures “Shifting Perspectives: Vertical Cinema” and “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” thru Aug. 4. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Closed Tuesdays. $15-$25; ages 17 and younger, free. (323) 930-3000. academymuseum.org
American Museum of Ceramic Art “Cj Jilek: Systematic Erosion,” thru Dec. 17; “Making in Between: Queer Clay,” thru Dec. 30; “Reveal: Recent Acquisitions 2020-2023,” thru July 21; “A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach: Villeroy and Boch,” thru June 2025. AMoCA, 399 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Open Fridays-Sundays. $7-$14; 12 and younger, free. (909) 865-3146. amoca.org
Armory Center for the Arts “Plein Air,” group exhibition, thru Dec. 10. The Armory, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Open Fridays-Sundays. Free. armoryarts.org
Art Share L.A. “Paper Route,” works on paper, thru Dec. 9. 801 E. 4th Place, downtown L.A. Open Tuesdays-Saturdays. (213) 687-4278. Free. artsharela.org
Autry Museum of the American West “Sherman Indian School: 100+ Years of Education and Resilience,” thru May 31; “Imagined Wests,” long-term. The Autry, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. Closed Mondays. $8-$16; members and children 2 and younger, free. (323) 667-2000. theautry.org
Benton Museum of Art “June Harwood: Paintings,” thru Jan. 7. Benton Museum, Pomona College, 120 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Free. pomona.edu
The Bowers “Beyond the Great Wave: Works by Hokusai from the British Museum,” thru Jan. 7; “The Power of Photography,” thru May 31. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Closed Mondays. $15, $18; children younger than 12, free; advance purchase recommended. (714) 567-3600. bowers.org
The Broad “Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog),” works by Los Angeles-based artists including John Baldessari and Lari Pittman, Nov. 18 thru April 7. Also on view: “Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms” and expanded exhibits of works by Warhol, Lichtenstein and Basquiat. Broad Museum, 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Open Wednesday-Sunday. General admission: free; special exhibitions, extra; advance timed-entry tickets required; no on-site standby line. (213) 232-6200. thebroad.org
California African American Museum Closed for storm-related repairs. CAAM, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, L.A. Free. (213) 744-7432. caamuseum.org
California Science Center Permanent exhibits: Space Shuttle Endeavour, “World of Life,” “Fire! Science and Safety,” “Ecosystems,” “Air & Space.” California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive, L.A. Free; special exhibits and IMAX films, various prices; advance reservations recommended. Open daily. (323) 724-3623. californiasciencecenter.org
The Cheech “Indigenous Futurism,” thru Feb. 18; “Cheech Collects: Anniversary Edition,” thru May 12; “Judithe Hernández | Beyond Myself, Somewhere, I Wait for My Arrival,” thru Aug. 4. The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture at Riverside Art Museum), 3581 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. $10.95, $15.95 (includes admission to the Riverside Art Museum); children 12 and under, and active-duty military, veterans and family members: free. riversideartmuseum.org
Craft Contemporary “Carolyn Castaño: Cumanday — Beautiful Mountain,” Linda Sibio — Economics of Suffering, Part IV” and “Chirk: Margaret Griffith,” thru Jan. 7. Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Closed Mondays. $7, $9; veterans, active military and ages 12 and under, free; Sundays, pay what you wish. (323) 937-4230. craftcontemporary.org
Craft in America Center “Influences/Influencers: California Fibers,” thru Dec. 2; “Spirit of Play: Craft and Imagination,” thru March 2. Craft in America, 8415 W. 3rd St., L.A. Closed Sundays-Mondays. Free. (323) 951-0610. craftinamerica.org
Discovery Cube Los Angeles “Science of Gingerbread,” thru Dec. 31. Discovery Cube LA, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. Open daily. $16-$18; ages 2 and under, free. discoverycube.org
Discovery Cube Orange County “Science of Gingerbread,” thru Jan. 7. Discovery Cube OC, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Open daily. Regular museum admission: $17-$2; ; ages 2 and under, free. discoverycube.org
Forest Lawn Museum “Reina de Los Angeles,” the Virgin of Guadalupe and local Mexican culture in photography, thru Feb. 11; “Shaping Gravity,” non-figurative works by contemporary artists, thru March 10. Forest Lawn Museum, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. Open Tuesdays-Sundays. Free. forestlawn.com
The Fowler “Janyak: Armenian Art of Knots and Loops,” thru Feb. 28; “Creating in Community: Fowler at 60” and “The House Was Too Small: Yoruba Sacred Arts from Africa and Beyond,” thru June 2. UCLA Fowler Museum, 308 Charles E. Young Drive North, Westwood. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Free. (310) 825-4361. fowler.ucla.edu
The Getty “William Blake: Visionary,” works by the Romantic era poet, painter and printmaker, thru Jan. 14; “Graphic Design in the Middle Ages,” thru Jan. 28; the photographic exhibits “Arthur Tress: Rambles, Dreams, and Shadows” and “Sheila Metzner: From Life,” thru Feb. 18; “Porcelain from Versailles: Vases for a King & Queen,” thru March 3; “Mercedes Dorame: Woshaa’axre Yaang’aro (Looking Back),” thru July 28; and “Untold Stories of a Monumental Pastel,” thru Oct. 20. The Getty Center, N. Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Drive, L.A. Closed Mondays. Free; advance reservations required. (310) 440-7300. getty.edu
The Getty Villa “The Egyptian Book of the Dead,” “The Gold Emperor from Aventicum” and “The Horse and Rider from Albania,” thru Jan. 29. Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. Closed Tuesdays. Free; advanced reservations required. (310) 440-7300. getty.edu
The Grammy Museum “Shakira, Shakira” and “Roxy: 50 and Still Rockin’,” thru winter 2024. “Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit,” thru Sept. 4. Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A. Closed Tuesdays. $12-$18; ages 4 and younger, free. (213) 765-6800. grammymuseum.org
Holocaust Museum LA The photographic exhibit “Sweet Home Sweet: A Story of Survival, Memory and Returns,” thru Dec. 31; “Childhood Left at the Station,” ongoing. Holocaust Museum LA, 100 The Grove Drive, L.A. Open daily. $10, $15; free for students, teachers, ages 17 and younger teachers, and free for all on Sundays. holocaustmuseumla.org
Institute of Contemporary Art — Los Angeles “Barbara T. Smith: Proof,” “Infinite Rehearsal with Chris Emile and No)one. Art House” and “Data (beta): the labor of looking,” thru Jan. 14. ICA LA, 1717 E. 7th St., L.A. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Free. (213) 928-0833. theicala.org
Japanese American National Museum “Glenn Kaino: Aki’s Market” and “The Bias Inside Us,” thru Jan. 28. JANM, 100 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. Closed Mondays. $9, $16; ages 5 and younger; advance timed-entry tickets reservations recommended; walk-ups available. (213) 625-0414. janm.org
Japan House Los Angeles “Pokémon X Kogei: Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft,” thru Jan. 7. Japan House LA, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Open daily. Free; reservations recommended. (800) 516-0565. japanhousela.com
La Brea Tarpits Ongoing exhibits include “Mammoths and Mastodons,” Fossil Lab, etc. La Brea Tarpits & Museum, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Open daily. $7-$15; Calif. EBT cardholders, Calif. pre-K thru 12 teachers, active and retired military, and 2 and under, free; free for LA County residents, 3 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; advanced timed-entry tickets recommended. (213) 763-3499. tarpits.org
LA Plaza de Cultural y Artes “18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium,” thru May 12. LA Plaza de Cultural y Artes, 501 N. Main St., downtown L.A. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Free. (213) 542-6200. lapca.org
LA Plaza Cocina “Cazuelas y un recetario: Family Heirlooms,” thru Dec. 31. LA Plaza Cocina, 555 N. Broadway, downtown L.A. Opens Saturdays-Sundays. Free. (323) 397-8365. laplazacocina.org
Laguna Art Museum “Breaking the Rules: Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown,” thru Jan. 7; “Marking an Era: Celebrating Self Help Graphics & Art at 50,” thru Jan. 15; “Burghers of Cali: A Ballad of Redwood Spirits,” thru Feb. 4; “Escape – Route,” thru March 8. LAM, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. Thursday, Nov. 2 thru Sunday, Nov. 5. $9, $12; children 12 and younger are free. (949) 494-8971. Details at lagunaartmuseum.org
Long Beach Museum of Art “Ordinary People,” thru Jan. 14; LBMA, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Closed Mondays-Wednesdays. $10, $12; ages 12 and under, free. (562) 439-2119. lbma.org
Long Beach Museum of Art Downtown “Tidawhitney Lek: Living Spaces,” thru Feb. 4, 2024. LBMA Downtown, 356 E. 3rd St., Long Beach. Closed Mondays-Wednesdays. Free; advance timed-entry tickets required. lbma.org
Los Angeles LGBT Center Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries, 1125 N. McCadden Place, L.A. Noon to 5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays Free. one.usc.edu
MOCA “Mapping an Art World: Los Angeles in the 1970s-80s,” thru March 10; “Long Story Short,” artworks from the 1940s to the present, thru May 5. Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Closed Mondays. Free; special exhibitions $10, $18; advance online time-entry tickets required. (213) 626-6222. moca.org
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA “Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom,” a decades-spanning survey of works by the multi-disciplinary artist, on view Nov. 12 thru June 16; “MOCA Focus: Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio,” recent works by the L.A.-based artist, on view Nov. 12 thru June 16. Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. Free; special exhibitions $10, $18; advance online time-entry tickets required. (213) 626-6222. moca.org
Museum of Art & History ”Framework,” group show, thru Dec. 17. MOAH, 665 W. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster. Closed Mondays. Free; reservations required. (661) 723-6250. lancastermoah.org
Museum of Latin American Art “Alexandre Arrechea: Intersected Horizons” and “Paola Vega: The Mystery of Painting,” now on view. MoLAA, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. $10, $15; younger than 12, free. (562) 437-1689. molaa.org
Museum of Neon Art, 216 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Closed Mondays-Wednesdays. $5-$10; ages 12 and under and veterans, free. (661) 723-6250. neonmona.org
Museum of Ventura County “Proximity to Water: Works from MVC’s Permanent Collection,” thru Jan. 31. MVC, 100 E. Main St., Ventura. Closed Mondays-Wednesdays. Free. (805) 653-0323. venturamuseum.org
Norton Simon Museum “Word as Image,” thru Feb. 5; “Benevolent Beings: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from South and Southeast Asia,” thru Feb. 19; Gauguin’s “The Swineherd,” thru April 30. Norton Simon, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Closed Tuesdays-Wednesdays. $15, $20; member, students, active-duty military and ages 18 and under, free. (626) 449-6840. nortonsimon.org
OCMA On view: “Alice Neel: Feels Like Home” and “Jennifer Guidi: And so it is,” thru Jan. 7; “Start, Start Again,” pairing Richard Jackson’s “100 Drawings” and Charles Long’s “100 lbs. of Clay,” thru Feb. 11; “Tony Lewis: Casual T,” thru March 10. Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa. Closed Mondays. Free; no reservations required. (714) 780-2130. ocma.art
Petersen Automotive Museum “Inside Tesla: Supercharging the Electric Revolution,” thru April 30; ongoing: “Arsham Auto Motive,” “Cars of Film and Television,” “Splendor & Speed,” “We Are Porsche.” The Petersen, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Open daily. $10.95-$19.95; active-duty military and children under 4, free; advance purchase required. (323) 930-2277. petersen.org
Riverside Art Museum “Sacred Spaces: The Work and Collection of Charles Bibbs,” thru March 10; “Rico Gatson: Icons,” thru April 7. RAM, 3425 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. $10.95, $15.95 (includes admission to The Cheech); children 12 and under, active-duty military and veterans and family members, free. riversideartmuseum.org
Santa Barbara Museum of Art “Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, 1368–1911, Masterworks from Tianjin Museum and Changzhou Museum,” thru Jan. 14. Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Open Tuesdays-Sundays. $6, $10; active-duty military and their families, and ages five and younger are free; advanced timed-entry tickets recommended. sbma.net
The Skirball “This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement,” thru Feb. 25; “Reclaimed: A Family Painting,” thru March 3; immersive installation “The American Library” by Yinka Shonibare, thru Sept. 1. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Closed Monday. $7-$12; 2 and under, free; free on Thursdays. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org
Torrance Art Museum “Mala Muerte/Bad Death” (group show) and “In Case of Emergency” (ceramics installation), thru Dec. 2. (TAM), 3320 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Closed Sundays-Mondays. Free. (310) 618-6388. torranceartmuseum.com
USC Fisher Museum “Narcisa Hirsch: In Relation,” recently digitized works by the Argentinian filmmaker, and “Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick,” thru Dec. 9. USC Fisher Museum of Art, 823 W. Exposition Blvd., L.A. Closed Sundays-Mondays. Free. (213) 740-4561. fisher.usc.edu
USC Pacific Asia Museum “The Painted Poetry of Agnes Lee,” thru Jan. 28. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. $7, $10; free for ages 17 and younger, and second Sunday of the month; Thursdays, pay what you wish; advance tickets recommended. (626) 787-2680. pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu
Vincent Price Art Museum “Teddy Sandoval and the Butch Gardens School of Art” and “Yoshie Sakai: Grandma Entertainment Franchise” thru Feb. 3. VPAM, East Los Angeles College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park. Open Wednesdays-Saturdays. Free. (323) 265-8841. vincentpriceartmuseum.org
Weisman Museum of Art “Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson: Infinite Space, Sublime Horizons,” thru Dec. 10. Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu. Closed Mondays. Free. (310) 506-4522. pepperdine.edu
The Wende Museum “Darling Godsonny: Ivan the Terrible Advises the Infant Stalin,” mixed-media work by Anne Bobroff-Hajal, “Visions of Transcendence: Creating Space in East and West” and “Ceija Stojka and Scenes of Roma Life,” thru April 7. The Wende, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Open Friday-Sunday. Free; reservations recommended for groups of six or more. (310) 216-1600. wendemuseum.org