the broad exhibitions

Ever wandered into a space and felt like your boots just flat-out forgot how to move? That’s the magic of the broad exhibitions—they stop you dead in your tracks, light up your eyeballs like Times Square at midnight, and murmur truths only your gut gets. Right in the pulsing core of LA, the broad exhibitions throw down a wild, electric mix of today’s most jaw-dropping contemporary art. Think Jeff Koons’ shiny pop-art swagger meet Yayoi Kusama’s trippy, soul-stirring visions. This ain’t your auntie’s dusty landscape in a gold frame—it’s loud, it’s proud, and it don’t apologize for existin’. The broad exhibitions are a sandbox for the fearless, where every splash of color flips a bird to the status quo and every room’s got more layers than your favorite flannel.

Truth is, the broad exhibitions ain’t just hangin’ pretty pictures on walls—they’re stirrin’ pots, sparkin’ debates, and maybe even makin’ you squint at your own shadow inside a chrome bunny. Built with heart by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, this joint was dreamed up to toss open the doors to modern art for *everyone*. And honey, it delivers like a Sunday morning preacher. The broad exhibitions keep things fresh—mixing forever-favorites with gutsy pop-ups that tackle stuff like who we are, how we scroll, and why your cold brew costs $7. You don’t just *see* the broad exhibitions—you step into ‘em, live in ‘em, and sometimes walk out a little less sure of everything… in the best way.

Alright, let’s hit the legends. If the broad exhibitions ran a Mount Rushmore, it’d be packed with infinity rooms, balloon pups, and hallways that make you wonder if you’re still just *one* person. Can’t talk the broad exhibitions without droppin’ Kusama’s “Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away”—where stars wink like sleepy fireflies in a galaxy-sized bedroom. Then there’s Jeff Koons’ “Balloon Dog (Blue),” that mirror-shiny, skyscraper-sized pup worth more than your buddy’s Tesla. Some call it a joke; others call it pure genius. And don’t you dare skip Jean-Michel Basquiat’s gritty, word-splattered canvases in the broad exhibitions—they’ll hit you like a cold bucket of truth on a humid Bronx afternoon.

Here’s the thing ‘bout the broad exhibitions, y’all—change is the only thing that stays put. Sure, the heavy hitters like Kusama’s cosmic chamber or Koons’ metallic zoo hang around as semi-permanent VIPs, but the curators behind the broad exhibitions love to shake the Etch A Sketch. New shows might roll in every few months or twice a year, tackling everything from AI identity crises to Black futurist dreams. So even if you’ve been once, the broad exhibitions might slap on a whole new vibe next time—like that one friend who went from flannel to tailored suits and somehow pulls it off.

Think the broad exhibitions are just for tweed-clad art snobs sippin’ $8 lattes? Nah, fam. These cats are Gen Z fluent—they’ve got TikTok-ready setups, AR filters that make your Insta pop, and programs that trade pizza for real mentorship (okay, maybe pizza’s still involved). Whether it’s interactive tech layers in the broad exhibitions or teens leadin’ their own tours, they get it: young folks don’t wanna be lectured—they wanna co-pilot. And let’s keep it 100—if your pic in a mirrored black hole gets 10K likes, congrats—you’re basically a guest artist in the broad exhibitions.

Here’s the real: general entry to the broad exhibitions is *free*—but yeah, you still gotta grab a timed ticket. Why? ‘Cause infinity rooms only fit so many dreamers at once. Special exhibits—the fancy, limited-run kinda—might run you $12 to $25 USD. Pro move? Book weeks out if you’re dead set on seein’ that hot-ticket show. Walk-up tickets? Possible, but you’ll hit “sold out” more often than your dating app says “seen.” So mark your calendar like it’s your last shot at Taco Tuesday—the broad exhibitions don’t cut slack for slackers. And remember: free don’t mean cheap—it means the broad exhibitions believe art’s for the people, not just trust-fund collectors in SoHo.

LA’s got museums like diners on Sunset—plenty—but the broad exhibitions stand out like a vinyl spinning in a Spotify world. LACMA’s all classy classics, MOCA’s got that streetwise edge, but the broad exhibitions? They blend red-carpet dazzle with brainy depth. The building itself—this honeycomb hive of glass and concrete by Diller Scofidio + Renfro—looks like a spaceship got tired of orbitin’ and decided to open a gallery downtown. Inside, the broad exhibitions marry showbiz sparkle with raw, honest questions, so you can snap a selfie with a giant flower while ponderin’ the end of capitalism. It ain’t just a museum—it’s a full-on experience.

Critics? They’re head-over-heels. The broad exhibitions keep showin’ up on “best of” lists from Artforum to the LA Times, praised for curatin’ that’s both smart and street-smart. Visitors vote with their sneakers—and smartphone cameras. We’re talkin’ over 800,000 folks a year before the world went sideways, and numbers keep climbin’. One Yelp review nailed it: “Felt like I stumbled into a fever dream cooked up by a billionaire who binge-read Camus—and I loved every second.” That blend of playful wonder and deep thought? That’s the secret sauce of the broad exhibitions.

Don’t let the gloss fool ya—the broad exhibitions got serious roots beneath that gleam. They run free school field trips, teacher workshops, and even bilingual (English/Spanish) audio tours so nobody gets left outta the convo. College students can snag paid fellowships to learn curation hands-on with real pieces from the broad exhibitions vaults. And for the rest of us? Open mic artist talks, family Sundays where kids build DIY infinity rooms outta shoeboxes and fairy lights, and lectures that feel more like hangouts. The broad exhibitions don’t just display art—they teach you how to *speak* it.

Keepin’ tabs on the broad exhibitions is easier than findin’ overpriced cold brew in Silver Lake. Hit up their newsletter (no spam, scout’s honor), follow @thebroad on Insta, or peek their slick site every Tuesday like it’s your weekly horoscope. They drop new exhibit news like surprise album drops—full of hype, no fluff. Plan a visit? Bookmark Galerie Im Regierungsviertel for the 411 on the art world, cruise our Art hub for deeper dives, or check out Watercolour Artists Modern Innovating Styles to warm up your creative gears before you hit the broad exhibitions.

References

• https://www.thebroad.org
• https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-05-10/the-broad-museum-10th-anniversary
• https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/the-broad-museum-los-angeles-contemporary-art-1234601234/
• https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/en/museums/the-broad-museum-guide