Overview
The Broad is a contemporary art museum on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, opened in September 2015. Founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, the museum was built specifically to house their personal collection of roughly 2,000 works spanning the 1950s to the present day. Admission to the permanent collection is free, which is unusual for a museum of this caliber and draws visitors from across the city and around the world.
The building itself is a striking presence on Grand Avenue. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, its exterior is clad in a latticed concrete 'veil' that wraps around a 'vault' housing much of the collection. Natural light filters through the veil into the upper gallery floors, creating a distinctive atmospheric quality that shifts throughout the day.
The collection leans heavily into postwar American art and street-influenced movements, with deep holdings in work by artists such as Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kara Walker, and Robert Therrien. Special and ticketed exhibitions rotate throughout the year and have included major retrospectives and immersive installations. The museum's location on Grand Avenue places it squarely in the cultural core of downtown LA, directly across from Walt Disney Concert Hall and steps from MOCA.
Before You Go
Reservations
Free timed-entry tickets for the permanent collection are strongly recommended and can be booked through The Broad's official website (thebroad.org). Walk-in availability exists but is not guaranteed, especially on weekends and during school holidays. Special exhibitions typically require a separate, paid ticket that should also be reserved in advance.
The Infinity Mirrored Room
Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room — The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away is among the museum's most sought-after experiences. Entry is allocated via a separate timed reservation within your museum visit; slots fill quickly, so book as far ahead as the system allows if this is a priority.
Practical Prep
- Bring a valid photo ID; it may be checked against your reservation name.
- Large bags and backpacks may need to be checked at the coat check.
- Photography for personal, non-commercial use is generally permitted in most permanent collection galleries; verify current policy on the official site before your visit.
- The museum is accessible to visitors with mobility needs; confirm specific accessibility features via the official site.
Visas
The Broad is located in the United States. Entry requirements vary significantly by nationality. Check TravelerPulse's Visas section for general guidance, and verify your specific requirements with the U.S. Department of State or your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate well before travel.
Getting There
Address
The Broad is located at 221 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
By Metro Rail
The most practical public transit option from much of LA is the Metro B Line (Red) or D Line (Purple), alighting at Civic Center/Grand Park station. From there it is a short uphill walk along Grand Avenue. The Metro A Line (Blue) and E Line (Expo) also connect at 7th Street/Metro Center, requiring a transfer. Verify current Metro schedules and fares at metro.net.
By Car
Several parking structures are available in the vicinity, including the Music Center Parking Garage and structures associated with Grand Park. Expect higher rates on weekends and during events at nearby venues. Street parking in the area is limited.
By Bus
Multiple DASH and Metro bus lines serve the downtown Grand Avenue corridor. Consult metro.net or ladottransit.com for current routing.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft operate throughout Los Angeles. Drop-off on Grand Avenue is straightforward; pick-up can be busier after popular evening events at nearby venues.
Getting Around
The Broad occupies a single building, and navigating it is simple. The main public entrance is on Grand Avenue. A distinctive long escalator carries visitors from the ground-floor lobby up through the veil to the top-floor gallery, with collections also displayed on intermediate levels. Staff and posted maps guide visitors through the floors.
The surrounding Grand Avenue Arts District is very walkable. Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Grand Avenue, the Colburn School, and Grand Park are all within a few minutes on foot. The hills of Bunker Hill can make some nearby streets steep; comfortable shoes are worthwhile.
Things to See & Do
Permanent Collection
The core reason most visitors come is to spend time with the permanent collection. Highlights frequently on view include major works by Jeff Koons (including large-scale sculptures), Cindy Sherman's photographic series, Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings, and large-scale installations by Robert Therrien. The collection is rotated, so not every work is on view at all times.
Special Exhibitions
The Broad mounts several ticketed special exhibitions each year. These have ranged from solo retrospectives to thematic group shows. Check the current exhibition schedule at thebroad.org before planning your visit, as these shape the experience significantly.
The Infinity Mirrored Room
Yayoi Kusama's room-size mirror-and-light installation remains a signature draw. Each visitor is given a short, timed window inside. The experience is brief but genuinely memorable; arrive prepared with your separate reservation.
Grand Avenue Neighborhood
- Walt Disney Concert Hall — Frank Gehry's titanium-clad concert hall is directly across the street; exterior self-guided tours are free, and the LA Philharmonic performs inside.
- MOCA Grand Avenue — The Museum of Contemporary Art is a short walk away and offers a complementary perspective on postwar and contemporary art.
- Grand Park — A 12-acre public park stretching from City Hall toward the Music Center; good for a break between museums.
- Colburn School — Free student recitals and performances are sometimes open to the public; check their calendar.
Food & Drink
Inside the Museum
The Broad has an on-site café that serves light meals, snacks, and beverages. Hours and menus vary; verify current offerings on the museum's website. The café is a practical option for a mid-visit break without leaving the building.
Grand Avenue and Nearby Downtown
The Grand Avenue corridor and adjacent Bunker Hill and DTLA neighborhoods offer a range of dining options within easy walking distance or a short ride:
- Patina (inside Walt Disney Concert Hall) and other Grand Avenue establishments cater to pre-concert and museum-going crowds.
- The Arts District, reachable by rideshare or a longer walk east, has a dense concentration of well-regarded restaurants and coffee shops.
- Little Tokyo, a short distance southeast, is one of the most significant Japanese-American cultural districts in the United States and offers numerous authentic dining options.
Always verify hours and current status of specific restaurants before visiting, as the downtown LA restaurant scene changes frequently.
Practical Information
Hours and Admission
The Broad's opening hours and admission fees (the permanent collection has historically been free; special exhibitions are ticketed separately) can change. Always check thebroad.org for current and accurate information before your visit.
Museum Store
A museum shop near the ground-floor entrance sells publications, prints, and design objects related to the collection and special exhibitions.
Accessibility
The museum reports being accessible to visitors with disabilities. Confirm the availability of elevators, accessible restrooms, and other specific accommodations via the official site or by contacting the museum directly.
Photography
Personal, non-commercial photography is generally allowed in permanent collection galleries. Policies for special exhibitions and the Infinity Mirrored Room may differ. Check current rules at the museum or on the website.
Emergency Contacts
In any emergency in the United States, dial 911 for police, fire, or ambulance services. The museum has its own security staff on-site.
Safety
The Broad is located in a busy, well-staffed public building on Grand Avenue. Security personnel are present throughout the museum. The immediate surroundings on Grand Avenue are generally safe during museum hours, as the area is heavily frequented by visitors to multiple cultural institutions.
Like many urban areas, parts of downtown Los Angeles have visible homelessness, particularly in the blocks east and south of Grand Avenue. Exercise standard urban awareness: keep bags secured, be mindful of your surroundings when moving between locations, and use well-lit, pedestrian-active streets after dark. Rideshare or Metro are practical options for returning to other neighborhoods in the evening.
Local Culture & Etiquette
The Broad occupies a significant position in Los Angeles's cultural life. Los Angeles has the largest concentration of working artists of any city in the United States, and the museum's collection reflects the postwar and contemporary art movements that have strong roots in Southern California — particularly the pop art, conceptual art, and street art traditions.
The museum's free admission policy for the permanent collection is a deliberate choice by its founders to make contemporary art accessible to a broad public. This has shaped the audience: on any given day you will find school groups, international tourists, local art students, and first-time museum visitors alongside regular collectors and art professionals.
The Grand Avenue Arts District as a whole represents a long-running civic effort to establish a cultural corridor in the civic heart of Los Angeles. Understanding this context — the deliberate clustering of the Music Center, Disney Hall, MOCA, and The Broad — helps visitors appreciate that the street itself is as intentional as the institutions lining it.
