Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA Grand Avenue)
250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90012
With a permanent collection of contemporary American and European art created after 1940, MOCA Grand Avenue is the premier venue in Los Angeles to see both emerging and classic contemporary masterpieces. The museum holds more than 7,500 objects by artists such as Barbara Kruger, Donald Judd, and Mark Rothko in paintings, sculpture, multimedia, light, and more.
The basics
MOCA Grand Avenue is the primary location for a museum with two venues—downtown Los Angeles and Little Tokyo (Geffen Contemporary at MOCA)—and Michael Heizer’s land art, Double Negative, located in the Nevada desert.
Always free, the MOCA Grand Avenue location has a vast collection of its permanent collection on display, focused on contemporary artists whose most significant works were made between 1940 and 1980. The museum is also known for its thought-provoking and socially ground-breaking special exhibits, which require a ticket for a fee. All tickets, whether gratis or for a fee, require advanced reservations for timed entry.
Things to know before you go
Thanks to a generous gift from arts philanthropist Carolyn Clark Powers, general admission to MOCA is free.
Reservations for advanced, timed-entry tickets are required by all visitors, including members, and are released online every two weeks on Tuesday at noon.
MOCA Grand Avenue contains the museum's main gift shop and Lemonade, a restaurant serving fast-casual Californian fare.
While food, drinks, backpacks, and large bags must be left in the free bag check area, you can bring a camera (for use without flash) and a pencil and paper for sketching in the galleries.
How to get there
MOCA Grand Avenue is a block from Walt Disney Hall and the Broad Museum on Grand Avenue in downtown LA. Several freeways connect to downtown, including I-10, Highway 101, I-5, and I-110. While street and garage parking are available, the Metro may be your best transportation option. You can use Metro.net's “Trip Planner” function to find your route.
When to get there
If you enjoy quiet museums, morning is the best time to arrive, before the bustle of later crowds. The museum opens at 11 am. Exhibits are frequently changed out, and when planning your visit, be sure that any current exhibit you intend to see is being shown at the building you are headed to, as there are other museum locations in nearby Little Tokyo.
Free monthly Talking Tours
Visitors can enjoy free Talking Tours at the museum each month, held on Thursday evening at 5:30 pm and the following Saturday at 2 pm. These are meant to expand visitor appreciation and understanding of contemporary art and dive deeper into works on view. Each talk is led by Olivia Leiter, an educator and artist working in video, writing, and installation. Check the MOCA Grand Avenue website for specific dates.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!