René Magritte (Belgium, 1898-1967), The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe), 1929
Thanks to the acquiring minds of Los Angeles-based tycoons such as Eli Broad, J. Paul Getty, Armand Hammer, Henry Huntington and Norton Simon, many of history’s great masterpieces are located right here in LA. Even if you don’t know much about art, you’ll still be able to appreciate the importance of these famous paintings in LA, and with this guide, you can take a whirlwind tour of the art world's timeless masterpieces.
Roy Lichtenstein, Cold Shoulder, 1963 Courtesy of LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) houses 150,000 artworks spanning five continents from the prehistoric to the present day. LACMA boasts one of the most comprehensive Korean art collections and a stunning Japanese art pavilion filled with screens, scrolls and a remarkable collection of netsuke. Among LACMA’s many famous paintings are Rivera’s Flower Day and Magritte’s Treachery of Images.
The new Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) at LACMA contributes its fair share of famous paintings from Eli Broad’s extensive collection. Visitors will find Jasper John’s much-celebrated Flag and Roy Lichtenstein’s Cold Shoulder, two works that have undoubtedly made it into the canon of contemporary art.
The Hammer Museum in Westwood is best known for its cutting-edge exhibitions of provocative works by leading and emerging living artists. Equally impressive, however, is its small but world-class permanent collection, containing works by Rembrandt, Gauguin, Monet, van Gogh and Wyeth, among others. Must-see paintings include van Gogh’s Hospital at Saint-Remy and Cézanne’s Boy Resting.
Vincent van Gogh, Irises, 1889 Courtesy of the Getty Center
No tour of the world’s greatest paintings in LA’s permanent collections would be complete without a visit to the Getty Center. In addition to stunning architecture and gardens, the Getty Center is distinguished by a far-reaching collection of exceptional paintings by European and American masters from the 14th to the 20th century. Although the collection contains many famous works by the Old Masters, the most popular painting at the Getty is van Gogh’s Irises.
The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough, circa 1770 Courtesy of The Huntington
The Huntington Library, Art Galleries, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is a required destination for anyone who admires artists’ ability to bring canvas, pigment and oil to life. Perhaps the most famous paintings in the collection are the masterpieces The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough and Pinkie by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
In addition to the famous masterpieces contained in LA’s permanent collections, many important works are on view in the ever-changing major exhibitions curated and presented by LA’s leading museums. It’s the perfect excuse to keep coming back for more.
