Hammer Museum

Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood


Originally a vanity project of the late oil tycoon Armand Hammer, this UCLA-affiliated museum has become a widely respected art space. The museum really shines in cutting-edge contemporary exhibits featuring local, under-represented and controversial artists. The Made in LA biennial, showcasing a diverse spectrum of LA-area artists, in even-numbered years, is headquartered here. It all stands in counterpoint to Armand Hammer’s personal collection of Renaissance to early 20th-century European and American art. All that, and it's free.

As an intellectual forum, the Hammer also presents diverse, high-caliber readings, lunchtime art talks, happenings, discussions, lectures, concerts and film screenings. Meanwhile, the museum store is one of the best in LA, stocking everything from art tomes to quirky, locally designed jewelry, fashion and accessories. Parking costs $7.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood attractions

2. Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden

0.38 MILES

In the southeastern corner of the UCLA campus, the seven-acre Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden harbors more than 3000 native and exotic plants and…

3. University of California, Los Angeles

0.69 MILES

Founded in 1919, the alma mater of Jim Morrison, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Jackie Robinson ranks among the nation’s top universities. The campus is vast:…

4. Powell Library

0.85 MILES

The Powell Library offers access to the UCLA Film and TV Archive, the country’s second-largest after the Library of Congress, with more than 350,000…

5. UCLA Film & TV Archive

0.86 MILES

The Powell Library offers access to the UCLA Film and TV Archive, the country’s second-largest after the Library of Congress, with more than 350,000…

6. Fowler Museum at UCLA

0.94 MILES

Near the Film and Television Archive in UCLA, this museum presents oft-intriguing ethno-exhibits. Previous multimedia shows have explored everything from…

7. Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden

1.05 MILES

Located northeast of Royce Quad at the sprawling UCLA campus is this verdant sculpture garden, considered one of the most comprehensive in the country…

8. Broad Art Center

1.13 MILES

Designed by Richard Meier, the Broad Art Center houses the UCLA visual-arts programs and an MFA student gallery.