CaliforniaScienceCenter Archives

LA’s Best Exhibitions & Immersive Experiences

Great news for art lovers. Some of LA’s most coveted exhibitions, like Kusama Infinity Rooms at The Broad and Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience, have reopened to the public at last. You’ll also discover must-see shows as richly diverse as our city itself, such as The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection at SoFi Stadium, Garden of Words calligraphy exhibition at The Huntington, and a gallery showcasing Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, and technology at Japan House. If you’re looking to get your culture on, you’ll find plenty of inspiration near Circa. Check websites for health protocols and reservations.

Tupac Shakur, Wake Me When I’m Free exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Tupac Shakur, Wake Me When I’m Free The Canvas @L.A. Live 944 Georgia St. Los Angeles CA 90015

Have you visited the Tupac Shakur, Wake Me When I’m Free exhibit yet? This immersive and thought-provoking experience explores the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur. You can catch it right across the street from Circa at The Canvas. Created in collaboration with the Shakur Estate, this exhibit leverages technology, contemporary art, and never before seen artifacts from Tupac’s personal archives, and delves into the greater meaning of his activism, music, and revolutionary art.

Kusama The Souls of Millions exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Kusama Infinity Rooms The Broad 221 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Two of Yayoi Kusama’s groundbreaking Infinity Mirror Rooms have reopened to the public. Kusama’s Longing for Eternity (2017) is currently on view. Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away (2013) is open with reservations required in advance. Born and raised in Japan, Yayoi Kusama has consistently created artwork about repetition and the concept of infinity. In 1965, Kusama produced her first Infinity Mirror Room, creating the illusion of infinite space using mirrors. Since then, Kusama has made more than twenty unique rooms. Book your tickets HERE

Banksy: Genius or Vandal? exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Banksy: Genius or Vandal? 10113 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232

In case you missed it the first time around, Banksy is back at an iconic location in Culver City. The exhibition includes over 80 original works, sculptures, installations, videos and photos including the now classics Girl with Balloon, similar to the one destroyed by the artist at the auctioneer Sotheby’s in London. For the very first time, the public will be able to discover the works of Banksy in their natural habitat, thanks to an impressive multimedia installation. In addition, enjoy at the end of the exhibition a virtual reality experience through the artist’s career, created especially for this event.

Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience 1345 N. Montebello Blvd. Montebello, CA 90640

Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience is a 20,000 square foot light and sound spectacular featuring two-story projections of the artist’s most compelling works. Encounter the brilliance of one of history’s greatest artists in 360 degrees. The exhibition features a one of kind Virtual Reality component, which guides you on a ten-minute journey through “A day in the life of the Artist.” Walk alongside Monet during this peaceful, visually rich journey to discover the inspiration behind eight of his iconic works.

Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia California Science Center 700 Exposition Park Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90037

The California Science Center proudly presents the world premiere of Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia – an international touring exhibition featuring over 120 ancient artifacts, half of which are on tour for the first time. Journey back 900 years to discover engineering and cultural marvels and daily life in the Khmer empire. Visit the exhibition and see the immersive IMAX movie Angkor 3D – a visually stunning IMAX adventure where science and mystery intersect on a 7-story screen.

Jane Goodall exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Becoming Jane Natural History Museum 900 W Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007

Explore a hands-on, transportive, multimedia exhibition celebrating the extraordinary life and work of world-renowned conservationist and ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall. As an intrepid young woman with a dream to learn about animals in Africa, Dr. Goodall traveled to what is now Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park and immersed herself by observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Rather than seeing the animals as subjects, she came to know them as individuals with personalities and emotion – a notion now considered revolutionary. Today, in her current role as an activist, mentor and advocate for creating a better world, she inspires us all.

Pipilotti Rist Geffen Contemporary at MOCA exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Pipilotti Rist Geffen Contemporary at MOCA 152 N Central Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Pipilotti Rist: Big Heartedness, Be My Neighbor is the first West Coast survey of the internationally renowned Swiss media artist. Rist’s installations explore relationships of video and the body; exterior environments and interior psychological landscapes; and reason and instinct, and exuberantly probe the video medium’s capaciousness – for vivid color; sweeping views and extreme close-ups; introspection and cultural critique; and, importantly, the creation of shared experiences within the museum public space.

GRAMMY Museum exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom GRAMMY Museum 800 W Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015

Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom examines the role music has played in informing and inspiring social consciousness throughout American history. Charting a path from spirituals sung by enslaved people in America and the songs and sounds of the American Revolution, to the mass movement of music and art that helped to stir action during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, to the continued fight for racial justice in America today, the exhibit spans time and genre to tell the stories of music’s role as a source of inspiration and education.

Garden of Words exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Garden of Words Part 2 The Huntington1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino, CA 91108

Celebrating the recent opening of the final phase of its Chinese Garden, The Huntington presents an exhibition of contemporary Chinese calligraphy as the inaugural installation in the garden’s new art gallery, the Studio for Lodging the Mind. The exhibition is designed to illuminate the art form and foster deeper appreciation of its expressive qualities. The works on view comprise the original calligraphic scrolls that served as the models for inscriptions throughout the garden. To complement the show, a series of calligraphy demonstrations by featured artists will be offered inside an adjacent structure known as the Flowery Brush Library.

Japan House exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Japan House 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

From manga to modern architecture, prototyping to paper culture, the Gallery at Japan House is dedicated to highlighting the best of Japanese culture. Minimal, refined, and intricate, these creators embrace Japanese aesthetics through a myriad of mediums including art, fashion, gastronomy, technology, textiles, and literature. An innovative project of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan House seeks to foster awareness and appreciation for Japan around the world by showcasing the very best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, technology, and more.

The Kinsey Collection exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

The Kinsey Collection SoFi Stadium 1001 Stadium Dr. Inglewood, CA 90301

The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection is the inspired work of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, and their son Khalil, and considered one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind. Beginning over 50 years ago, the Kinsey’s have been on a journey of collecting fine art and primary source historical objects that document the African American experience and illuminate the untold stories of Black Excellence throughout U.S. history. Curated by Khalil Kinsey and historian Larry Earl, the exhibition focuses on the lives, accomplishments, and brilliance of African Americans from the 16th century through the years of slavery and emancipation to the civil rights movement through modern day.

Immersive Frida Kahlo exhibition near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Immersive Frida Kahlo Lighthouse Artspace 6400 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

Explore the world through the eyes of the legendary Frida Kahlo – a brilliant, uncompromising painter who created some of the history’s most iconic artwork. As you stroll through the Lighthouse Immersive gallery, you will see the Mexico-born artist’s work come to life on a grand scale and discover the people, events, and obstacles that made her the extraordinary woman she was. The mesmerizing, large-scale projections, accompanied by a ravishing musical score, will sweep you up as you encounter Frida as never before. Frida Kahlo’s art is not only beautiful on an aesthetic level; it has also become a universal symbol of resilience and perseverance.

Photo Credits:

Photo #1: The Broad

Photo #2: Tupac Shakur Wake Me When I’m Free

Photo #3: The Broad

Photo #4: Exhibition Banksy: Genius or Vandal?

Photo #5: Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience

Photo #6: California Science Center

Photo #7: Natural History Museum

Photo #8: Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

Photo #9: GRAMMY Museum

Photo #10: The Huntington

Photo #11: Japan House

Photo #12: The Kinsey Collection

Photo #13: Immersive Frida Kahlo

March Madness! LA’s Best Food Fairs, Festivals, and St. Paddy’s Day Bashes!

According to ancient tradition, the expression March Madness referred to the erratic, tempestuous weather of the season, and the phenomenon of hares getting frisky in the spring. Lewis Carroll nods to this bunny cliché with his characters the Mad Hatter and the March Hare! It wasn’t until 1939 that March Madness became associated with mens basketball. Today, March marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring and St. Patrick’s Day – one of the biggest party days of the year in Los Angeles! There’s plenty of March Madness in store for you – with LA’s best food fairs, festivals, and St. Paddy’s Day bashes!

St. Patrick’s Day Get Lucky Festival Pershing Square 532 S Olive St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Mar 14 Grab your shillelagh and get ready for some green beer! The Get Lucky Festival, DTLA’s largest St. Patrick’s Day party, is back! Luck is in the air with beer, food, multiple bars, games & prizes, live music, and more!

St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl & Beer Garden LA Biergarten 750 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014

Mar 14 & 15 St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest party days of the year in Los Angeles! Dress in green, rally up a group of friends and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with hundreds of others bouncing from bar to bar for the annual St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl, with access and drink discounts at over 10 different venues. Your St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl kit includes drink coupons, free welcome shot vouchers and a map of all participating Downtown LA bars and nightclubs. Check-in any time from 2 pm to 6 pm at the massive LA Biergarten, with 100 beers on tap, and enjoy a free welcome shot.

PaleyFest 2020 Dolby Theatre 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028

Mar 13-22 PaleyFest is the premier television festival in the country – a must-attend entertainment event produced by The Paley Center for Media that brings you together with the talent behind your favorite TV shows. Join in at the world-renowned Dolby Theatre, as the hottest stars delight fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes scoops, hilarious anecdotes, and breaking news stories. Enjoy a screening followed by a discussion with your favorite stars live onstage, capped off by a Q & A with the audience. Named for William S. Paley, founder of CBS and The Paley Center for Media, proceeds from PaleyFest support his mission to serve as a nonprofit cultural and educational resource in television, radio, and new media.

Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival Universal Studios 100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, CA 91608

Mar 19 & 20 Sample a menu of delectable culinary tastings inspired by Bravo’s hit series Top Chef that will hit the spot for any craving. Enjoy a wide selection of fine wines, craft beers and cocktails specially curated for the festival. Experience a live Quickfire Challenge featuring Top Chef Cheftestants from Season 17 – All Stars LA as they whip up all-new unexpected dishes and gather for a special panel featuring Top Chef Alums as they dish on the making of the show, their favorite foods, and why they cook to live and live to cook. Snap a photo at iconic Top Chef-themed photo ops located throughout the event and shop for exclusive Top Chef branded merchandise from chef aprons to tote bags.

Whiskey Festival California Science Center 700 Exposition Park Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90037

Mar 26 Take a deep dive into the world of whiskey at Los Angeles magazine’s annual Whiskey Festival. Meet master distillers, sip the finest spirits, learn fresh cocktail recipes and experience new brands as you enjoy hors d’oeuvres, live music and unique experiences that will complement the bespoke tasting atmosphere.

Latin Food Fest Los Angeles State Historic Park 1245 N Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mar 28 Spice up your weekend at the 8th annual Latin Food Fest, the West Coast’s ultimate Latin culinary extraganza. Your ticket includes all food, beer, wine, spirits, music performance, michelada and margarita tastings, contests, chef throwdown and awards, and cooking demos by cele chefs y mas!

First Fridays Natural History Museum 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007

The Future is Now! First Fridays is back, so get ready for an awesome night ahead! Engage in dynamic and timely discussions, enjoy a craft cocktail with dinosaurs, dance to live music and DJs in the mammal halls, wander through exciting exhibitions after-hours — including Natural History of Horrors — and so much more! Performances include Wajatta (featuring Reggie Watts and John Tejada), French Vanilla, and Café Molly. Resident DJ Novena Carmel is joined by Guest DJ Josh Peace in the DJ Lounge.

LA Beer Fest LA Center Studios 450 S Bixel St. Los Angeles, CA 90017

Apr 4 Mark your calendar for LA Beer Fest, LA’s largest craft beer festival, featuring over 80 breweries, food trucks, live music and much more! The 12th annual LA Beer Festival follows last year’s sold out event, and this year’s promises to be even better. The event will feature dozens of international and domestic beers, over a dozen food trucks (food sold separately), as well as live entertainment. Admission is for only one session, so make sure to coordinate with friends before buying your ticket. You GA tickets include unlimited beer tastings with food sold separately.

Masters of Taste Rose Bowl Stadium 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. Pasadena, CA 91103

Apr 5 Masters of Taste is a premier food and beverage festival on the field of the iconic Rose Bowl. This year, the 5th Anniversary event features Vanda Asapahu from Ayara Thai Cuisine as Host Chef. Join over 2,500 food and beverage enthusiasts and walk the Rose Bowl field while enjoying delicious, unlimited tastings from LA’s top Master Chefs and restaurants, craft cocktail bars, wineries and local breweries. Enjoy lifestyle activations, live entertainment and much more. 100% of event proceeds benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Latin Food Fest

Photo #2: Get Lucky Festival

Photo #3: St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl & Beer Garden

Photo #4: PaleyFest

Photo #5:Bravo’s Top Chef Food & Wine Festival

Photo #6: Whiskey Festival

Photo #7: Latin Food Fest

Photo #8: First Fridays Natural History Museum

Photo #9: LA Beer Fest

Photo #10: Masters of Taste

Culture Club: LA’s New Galleries & Immersive Exhibitions

This spring, LA is blooming with more than just wildflowers – new galleries, interactive exhibitions, and immersive experiences are popping up like poppies all across the Southland. Discover dazzling VR and interactive installations at the world’s first fully immersive entertainment art park. Food meets art at Audrey restaurant, which recently opened at the Hammer Museum, while The Egg House features some “eggcellent” treats to view and eat. Animal lovers will revel in awww-worthy displays devoted to our furry friends. Whatever your culture club, LA’s new galleries and immersive exhibitions are guaranteed to inspire, amuse, and entertain!

Brannon Mason Gallery 1923 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Recently opened this month, Brannon Mason Gallery is a new contemporary gallery for social impact situated in a 4,500 square foot commercial space in the LA Arts District. The inaugural exhibition, CORNERSTONE, presents the U.S. debut of French photographer Etienne Rougery-Herbaut and Haitian artist Samdi, showing new works from each artist, as well as an exuberant series of collaborations the two conceived specially for this occasion. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California is the benefiting organization of the first show, with donations supporting the Immigrants’ Rights Project.

SAMSKARA Wisdome Immersive Art Park 1147 Palmetto St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

Wisdome.LA, the world’s first fully immersive entertainment art park, presents SAMSKARA, an immersive art exhibition featuring works from transformational artist Android Jones. Visitors will experience a full dome mapping projection show, microdose VR, interactive photo display, and Android Jones art gallery. Samskara is Sanskrit for the scope of experiences which we collect through our life journeys. Good samskara is driven by positive experiences and deeds, while negative samskara is the result of evil or selfish thoughts and actions. Wisdome.LA is dedicated to presenting avant-garde transformational experiences and unforgettable events in a unique multiple projection domes setup, featuring VR and 360 immersive audio and visual experiences.

Audrey at the Hammer 10899 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024

Located within the Hammer Museum in Westwood, Audrey restaurant blends elevated and soulful cooking with a contemporary Southern California feel rooted in the region’s growing seasons. From restaurateur Soa Davies Forrest and chef Lisa Giffen, the dishes emphasize European flavors and techniques complemented by a full bar offering fresh, bright cocktails and a diverse wine list showcasing small production winemakers. The modern and inclusive space designed by architect Michael Maltzan and interiors by Fettle Design features a prominent tile installation from renowned Cuban-American artist Jorge Pardo.

The Other Art Fair The Magic Box at The Reef 1933 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90007

Looking for some art for your home or office? The Other Art Fair is a leading artist fair for a new generation of art buyers. Presented by world-renowned online art gallery Saatchi Art, The Other Art Fair showcases work by 140 talented independent artists with artworks starting from $150, each hand picked by a Selection Committee of art world experts. Art lovers can visit the fair with the confidence that they are buying from the very best and most promising emerging artists in a unique and immersive experience. According to Telegraph Luxury, “The Other Art Fair’s got hipster credentials, but it’s serious about nurturing talent too.”

The Egg House 708 N Croft Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90069

The Egg House is the first egg-themed pop-up space offering a multi-sensory experience, led by founder Biubiu Xu and an eggcellent team of creators, designers, and artists. With multiple rooms of immersive installations and interactive experiences, The Egg House is a house full of dreams and fantasies that saves you from the busy concrete city, and brings you a shareable fun time to spend with friends and family. Visitors can explore Instagrammable installations, interactive design, vendors with “eggcellent” egg treats, a gift shop and more.

The Bunny Museum 2605 Lake Ave. Altadena, CA 91001

Bunnies aren’t just for Easter! The Bunny Museum is a world record-holding museum dedicated to rabbits that opened to the public in 1998, Founded by Steve Lubanski and Candace Frazee, who as a couple are called Lubunnzee, The Bunny Museum tells the history of bunnies in advertising, art, entertainment, fashion, film, and everyday vernacular. Got dust bunnies in your home? Do you know what bunnies have to do with math? Have you ever heard of a rabbit plane? Have you ever eaten a Welsh Rabbit? Hop on over and find out. The Bunny Museum has 35,754 bunny objects to date.

ALERT: This museum is not recommended for pre-school children. Children are welcome, but they are not the target audience.

100 Tactile 529 N La Cienega Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90048

100 Tactile is the first and only tactile interactive exhibition – featuring 100 boxes with unknown content inside! The audience will experience objects and symbols completely through the sense of touch, activating a different kind of awareness to the world. Complemented by supporting visual elements and music, the artwork consists of 100 individual pieces, divided into 3 sections: 1. Daily Objects 2. Materials and Texture 3. Text and Symbols. (Hand sanitizers are provided in every section).100 Tactile was conceived by Ceci M W, a conceptual artist based in New York. Ceci’s installation work frequently involves physical interactions with the audience in unexpected ways, examining psychological effects, physiological senses, or communication between humans through participation.

Dogs! A Science Tail California Science Center 700 Exposition Park Dr. Los Angeles 90037

They’re cuddly. They’re smart. We treat them like part of the family. From lovable companions to loyal protectors, dogs live and work alongside us. They can rescue us from peril, sniff out danger, or provide help to people in need. Through engaging and fun hands-on exhibits, visitors can explore the science behind the bond between humans and dogs. Find out how humans and dogs are both wired for social connection, which made it possible for dogs to nuzzle their way into human society and into our hearts. Discover dogs’ amazing senses and grab the chance to see, hear, smell, and act like a dog.

ALERT: Please note: Humans only! Service dogs that have been individually trained to work or perform tasks for a guest with a disability are welcome, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Pets, comfort animals, emotional support animals, or therapy animals are not allowed, for the safety of the Science Center’s exhibit animals.

Super Power Dogs 3D

Enhance your California Science Center experience with an immersive IMAX adventure to experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs. Superpower Dogs 3D takes you on a journey around the globe to meet remarkable dogs who save lives and discover the powerful bond they share with their human partners.