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Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, California

Museum
In Los Angeles, California
2.0 mi from Route 66

ICA LA shows contemporary art in the Downtown Arts District of Los Angeles, CA, about 2 miles off the old road. Its first name, from 1984, was Santa Monica Museum of Art; it took its current name in 2016 and reopened downtown in 2017. It keeps no permanent collection, so every visit is built around changing shows by artists from Southern California, the rest of the country and abroad.

What it is

The museum works like a European kunsthalle: an exhibition hall with no collection of its own. Instead of permanent galleries, it brings in work by contemporary artists, from local names to national and international ones, and the rooms change with each exhibition. It is an independent nonprofit.

A bit of history

For years the museum was based at Santa Monica's Bergamot Station Arts Center, close to the western end of Route 66. It left that site in May 2015. A year later it announced a new name, ICA LA, together with a move to the Downtown Arts District, and it reopened to the public there in September 2017.

Visiting tips

Because the shows rotate, look up what is on before making the detour, and allow about an hour. Several other downtown museums are close by: the Japanese American National Museum is about a mile away, the Chinese American Museum about 1.4 miles, and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes about 1.5 miles. Together they make a good half-day in the city center.

Practical info

Address: 10250 Constellation Blvd #220
Website: theicala.org
Hours: We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat nearby

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Philippe's
Los Angeles, CA · 1.7 mi from here
A downtown Los Angeles restaurant running since 1908 that claims to have invented the French dip sandwich.
Diner & restaurant
Pink's Hot Dogs
Los Angeles, CA · 7.1 mi from here
A Los Angeles hot dog stand on North La Brea Avenue, serving since 1939 at the edge of Hollywood.
Diner & restaurant
Musso & Frank Grill
Los Angeles, CA · 7.3 mi from here
Hollywood's oldest restaurant, operating on Hollywood Boulevard since 1919 and named for its two founders.

On the map

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Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.

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Nearby stops

All of California

Japanese American National Museum

Los Angeles, California · 1.0 mi from Route 66

More than a century of Japanese American life, told through objects, photos and home movies.

MuseumPhoto credit

1.0 mi from Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Route 66 Original Western Terminus

Los Angeles, California · on Route 66

The downtown Los Angeles corner where Route 66 first ended in 1926, marked by a plaque at the State Theatre.

Route 66 sitePhoto credit

1.2 mi from Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Chinese American Museum

Los Angeles, California · 0.6 mi from Route 66

Chinese American history, told inside the oldest Chinese building still standing in Southern California.

MuseumPhoto credit

1.4 mi from Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

Los Angeles, California · 0.6 mi from Route 66

A cultural center and museum of Mexican American life, with a garden you can eat from and a teaching kitchen.

MuseumPhoto credit

1.5 mi from Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Italian American Museum of Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California · 0.6 mi from Route 66

The story of Italian Americans in Southern California, inside the El Pueblo historic area downtown.

MuseumPhoto credit

1.5 mi from Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California · 0.7 mi from Route 66

Art made after 1940, shown in a Grand Avenue building designed by Arata Isozaki.

MuseumPhoto credit

1.5 mi from Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

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