SoCal museums in October: ‘Mapping the Infinite,’ ‘Diane von Furstenberg,’ Circa: Queer Histories Festival and more
SoCal museums in October: ‘Mapping the Infinite,’ ‘Diane von Furstenberg,’ Circa: Queer Histories Festival and more
Plus, “Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures” at the Academy Museum, “Contested Histories” at JANM, “Fantasy: Realms of Imagination” at the Bowers, and Luminex 3.0 in DTLA
Welcome to a new edition of TV or Not TV’s monthly roundup of new and noteworthy exhibitions and events at museums all around Southern California. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
New and upcoming
The Getty “Rising Signs: The Medieval Science of Astrology,” exploring representations of the zodiac from the Middle Ages, Oct. 1 thru Jan. 5; “Ultra-Violet: New Light on Van Gogh’s Irises,” examining the artist’s beloved painting from a conservation viewpoint, Oct. 1 thru Jan. 5; “Paper and Light,” drawings by Delacroix, Seurat, Manet, et al. plus contemporary artists, Oct. 15 thru Jan. 19. The Getty Center, N. Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Drive, L.A. Closed Mondays. Free; advance reservations required. (310) 440-7300. getty.edu
Long Beach Museum of Art “Greg Ito: Motion Pictures, works by the L.A.-based painter, and “LBMA Video: Shared Realities; A Cable Access Series,” episodes from the museum’s 1980s-era cable access program; Oct. 4 thru Feb. 2. LBMA, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Closed Mondays-Wednesdays. $10, $12; ages 12 and under, free. (562) 439-2119. lbma.org
ICA LA “Scientia Sexualis,” group show interrogates the concepts of sex and gender from a scientific perspective, Oct. 5 thru March 2. Institute of Contemporary Art — Los Angeles, 1717 E. 7th St., L.A. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Free. (213) 928-0833. theicala.org
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema,” examining the development and use of color in film, Oct. 6 thru July 2025; “Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema,” exploring examples of the sci-fi subgenre on the big screen in films like “Tron,” “Blade Runner” and “The Matrix., Oct. 6 thru April 2026. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Closed Tuesdays. $15-$25; ages 17 and younger, free. (323) 930-3000. academymuseum.org
Laguna Art Museum “Fred Tomaselli: Second Nature,” new and recent works by the SoCal-born, New York-based painter and multimedia artist, Oct. 6 thru Feb. 2. Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. Closed Mondays. $9, $12; children 12 and younger are free. (949) 494-8971. lagunaartmuseum.org
The Skirball “The Sukkah Project: Force Majeure,” immersive installation by Jonathan York serves as a traditional temporary enclosure for observing the Jewish festival of Sukkot, Oct. 8 thru Nov. 3; “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion,” celebrating the trailblazing fashion designer, Oct. 17 thru Aug. 31; “Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology” and “On the National Language: The Poetry of America’s Endangered Tongues,” Oct. 17 thru March 2. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Closed Monday. $8-$13; 2 and under, free; free on Thursdays. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org
The Cheech “Desde los Cielos (From the Heavens),” works by 15 local artists exploring themes of community, identity and alienation, Oct. 9 thru March 16. 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
Art + Practice “KAOS Theory: The Afrokosmic Media Arts of Ben Caldwell,” multimedia exhibition co-presented by the California African American Museum celebrates the artist, innovator and community leader, Oct. 12 thru March 8. Art + Practice, 3401 W. 43rd Pl., Leimert Park. Closed Sunday-Monday. Free. artandpractice.org
The Hammer “Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective,” comprehensive survey of works by the Chicago-based painter, Oct. 12 thru Jan. 5. UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Closed Mondays. Free. (323) 443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu
The Wende Museum “Counter/Surveillance: Control, Privacy, Agency,” investigating the Cold War-era origins of surveillance devices and methods, Oct. 13 thru Oct. 19, 2025; “Undercurrents II: Archives and the Making of Soviet Jewish Identity,” self-published underground materials and ephemera from the 1980s, and “Donde Nace El Agua (Where The Water is Born),” installation by Salvadoran artist Felix Quintana, Oct. 13 thru April 6. The Wende, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Open Friday-Sunday. Free. (310) 216-1600. wendemuseum.org
Japanese American National Museum “Contested Histories: Preserving and Sharing a Community Collection,” artworks created by Japanese Americans while illegally incarcerated in U.S. concentration camps during WWII, Oct. 19 thru Jan. 5. 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
Los Angeles County Museum of Art “Mapping the Infinite: Cosmologies Across Cultures,” globe-spanning survey of representations of the cosmos from the dawn of history to the present day, Oct. 20 thru March 2. 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
Forest Lawn Museum “Memory and Motion: The Paintings of Hratchya Hayents,” celebrating the Armenian American experience, Oct. 23 thru Jan. 12; “Narcissus Quagliata: Archetypes and Visions in Light and Glass,” Oct. 23 thru March 9. Forest Lawn, 1712 S. Glendale Blvd., Glendale. Closed Mondays. Free. forestlawn.com
The Bowers “Fantasy: Realms of Imagination,” special ticketed exhibition co-presented by the British Library explores the creation of fantastical worlds in literature, movies, TV, etc., Oct. 26 thru Feb. 16. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Closed Mondays. $15, $18; special ticketed exhibitions, $10-$28 (includes general admission); children younger than 12, free; advance purchase recommended. (714) 567-3600. bowers.org
Events
Circa: Queer Histories Festival Presented by One Institute, the second annual edition of this sprawling citywide celebration of LGBTQ+ history includes exhibits, film screenings, live performances, lectures, workshops, soirees and more. Various venues, days, dates, times and prices, Oct. 1 thru 31. Tickets, info and schedules at circafestival.org
Luminex 3.0 This walkable, outdoor, hi-tech multimedia art exhibition returns to DTLA for one night only — and includes a new curated experience via pedicab. Downtown L.A.’s South Park District, downtown L.A. 7 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. Free; pedicabs and VIP experiences, $20 to $1500. Details at luminexla.com
PST ART The Getty-led initiative formerly known as Pacific Standard Time, returns with “PST ART: Art & Science Collide.” Topics including climate change, economic and environmental justice, multiculturalism, futurism and artificial intelligence are considered in myriad exhibitions, programs and events at scientific and cultural institutions all across Southern California, Sept. 15 thru Feb. 16. Details at pst.art