Art Viewing and Well-Being in Los Angeles.
How Art Viewing Can Improve Your Mental Health:
In today's fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety seem like constant companions, finding respite and engaging in activities that promote well-being is essential. One often overlooked yet profoundly impactful way to nurture our mental health is visiting spaces devoted to sharing art. Los Angeles has long been hailed as a hub for artistic expression and offers its residents many happenings and exhibitions to appreciate on any given day. These creative places are not only repositories of expression but also sanctuaries for our minds and bodies.
Expression, Empathy, and Self-Reflection:
Art is a powerful medium for self-expression and empathy-building. Visiting art spaces allows individuals to connect with the emotions and experiences portrayed in various artworks, fostering self-reflection and empathy. A study by the University of London found that visits to art spaces increased self-awareness, compassion, and the ability to recognize and manage one's emotions.
(Reference: "Art Galleries, Emotional Well-being, and the Adult Museum Visitor Experience," University of London, 2019)
Neuroarts: And our Ability to Heal and Thrive
Psychology Today wrote about this connection in an article, “Neuroarts: An Emerging Field with a Plan to Transform Health,” which speaks to the inherent relationship between art appreciation, expression, and our ability to heal.
brief excerpt below…
“The emerging field of neuroarts studies how the arts and aesthetic experiences change the brain, body, and behavior – and how this knowledge can be used to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities around the globe.”
Click here to jump ahead to local Art listings
Art Museums are Immersive Experiences:
Art museums provide a unique environment that encourages introspection, tranquility, and personal reflection. A study by the University of Westminster found that visiting an art museum promotes a sense of "cognitive quiet," allowing visitors to temporarily escape from daily worries and immerse themselves in the beauty and symbolism of artwork.
(Reference: "The Impact of Museum Spaces on Visitor Experience: A Study of the Role of Design," University of Westminster, 2018)
Exploring the Los Angeles Art Scene for Your Mental Health
From international museums to innovative galleries and immersive art happenings, there is always something to captivate anyone who loves experiencing new ways of seeing and feeling. As residents of Los Angeles, we are lucky to have all of this accessible to us, so let’s take a tour of some of the most well-known and emerging spots.
LACMA
Located in the heart of Los Angeles, LACMA is a cultural landmark that showcases a vast collection spanning thousands of years, from ancient civilizations to contemporary art. With its diverse range of artworks, LACMA offers visitors an immersive experience through its permanent collections and rotating exhibitions. The museum is known for its impressive holdings of European, American, Latin American, and Asian art and its significant collection of modern and contemporary works.
Ticket information, including free admission, can be found here https://www.lacma.org/tickets
MOCA
With its commitment to showcasing innovative and thought-provoking art, MOCA offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the ever-evolving world of contemporary artistic expression. The museum also hosts special exhibitions, educational programs, and events that further enrich the cultural experience for its visitors. MOCA's dynamic and vibrant environment serves as a hub for artistic exploration and creative dialogue, making it a must-visit destination for contemporary art enthusiasts in Los Angeles.
Ticket information can be found here https://moca.ticketapp.org/portal/pages/tickets
The Broad
The Broad is a contemporary art museum located in downtown Los Angeles, California. Opened in 2015, it quickly became a prominent cultural landmark in the city. The collection encompasses various mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and new media. The Broad offers a dynamic and immersive experience for visitors. Its innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions highlight contemporary art's ability to explore societal issues, challenge conventional norms, and ignite intellectual discourse. The museum also provides engaging educational programs and events.
this museum offers free admission though it does require a reservation which you can secure here https://ticketing.thebroad.org/events
if you can’t make it physically to the museum The Broad also has an online digital program to explore here https://www.thebroad.org/digital
The Getty
The Getty Museum, officially known as the J. Paul Getty Museum, is a renowned art institution situated in Los Angeles, California. It is part of the larger Getty Trust, which encompasses multiple programs dedicated to the preservation, study, and presentation of art. The Getty Museum is located atop a picturesque hill in the Brentwood neighborhood and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city. The museum's campus features stunning architecture and meticulously landscaped gardens, providing a serene and inviting setting for visitors.
The museum's collection is known for its breadth and depth, encompassing artworks from various periods and regions. It includes European paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, manuscripts, and drawings dating from the Middle Ages to the present. Notable highlights of the collection include masterpieces by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir
this museum offers free admission though it does require a reservation which you can secure here https://tickets.getty.edu/
Hauser & Wirth
Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles is a prominent contemporary art gallery located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, California. As part of the international Hauser & Wirth gallery network, it showcases a diverse range of contemporary art practices and represents a roster of internationally renowned artists.
Hauser & Wirth is always free and is host to many live events as well exhibitions of internationally known artists. you can check out event information here https://www.hauserwirth.com/events/ just be sure to note the location of the event since Hauser & Wirth has a number of locations around the world.
For Your Art
ForYourArt wears so many hats it can be difficult to define so, I will just quote from their website
ForYourArt works in the intersection of art and enterprise. We produce art projects, share information about exhibitions and events, and collaborate with everyone from artists and institutions to civic entities and brands to encourage engagement and patronage.
They have an incredible newsletter about all the goings on in Los Angeles you can sign up for here https://foryourart.com/newsletter
and they have created a wonderful interactive Map that you can find here
https://foryourart.com/locations
that will help you find art spaces throughout Los Angeles
The Hammer Museum
The Hammer Museum (affiliated with UCLA) is a vibrant and inclusive cultural institution that celebrates contemporary art and provides a platform for artistic expression, critical discourse, and creative engagement. With its thought-provoking exhibitions, dynamic public programs, and commitment to accessibility, the museum invites visitors to explore the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art and the ideas it inspires.
The Hammer Museum is always free and they also host many programs as well as art exhibitions that you can find here https://hammer.ucla.edu/programs
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
description below taken directly from their website
ICA LA’s mission is to support art that sparks the pleasure of discovery and challenges the way we see and experience the world, ourselves, and each other. ICA LA is committed to upending hierarchies of race, class, gender, and culture. Through exhibitions, education programs, and community partnerships, ICA LA fosters critique of the familiar and empathy with the different.
admission is always free but to help plan your visit click here https://www.theicala.org/en/visit
REDCAT
In case you are more in the mood for performance see description from their website below
REDCAT, CalArts’ downtown center for contemporary arts, is a multidisciplinary center for the visual and performing arts in Los Angeles. Through performances, exhibitions, screenings, and events, REDCAT presents new and innovative work across the arts, both from Los Angeles and around the world.
here is a list of their current programming ( note: some events are free and other have ticket prices - and prices vary ) https://www.redcat.org/events
home LA
homeLA is a platform for experimental dance that promotes intersectionality and cultivates inclusivity through site-specific programs that position underrepresented narratives into the embodied exchange of ideas around space and place to reframe Los Angeles’ history and its civic and urban character through varied contextual imaginings of “home”. In full disclosure - I am the founder and sit on the board of this organization that I am delighted to say just celebrated its 10 year anniversary.
a survey of past and upcoming events can be found here https://www.homela.org/events