Getty Museum Center
The Getty Museum and Center is located in Los Angeles, CA, 12 miles from downtown. The best part about
the museum is that is free. On Mondays, the museum is not open. Except on holidays and Mondays, the museum opens at
10am and closes at 6pm except for Fridays and Saturdays.
The Getty Villa is a separate part from the Getty Center and admission is also free. The only issue is that
an advance timed ticket is required. For more information on how to obtain one of these, go to the official
website at Getty.edu.
The Getty Villa is also located in a different section than the Getty Museum Center. For the villa you need to go
to 17985 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, CA. This is 1 mile north of Sunset Boulevard (25 miles west of downtown LA).
The Getty Center Museum collects classical art and sculpture. There are some very famous European paintings, drawings,
manuscripts, etc on display at all times. NOTE: The museum does not collect 20th or 21st century art (other than photographs).
The museum is relatively new, first opening in December of 1997.
Not only is the art on display at the Getty Museum, but the Getty Center is on a campus which has beautiful gardens and panoramic
views of the Los Angeles area. The building is a work of art designed by Richard Meier. The Central Garden was designed by Robert Irwin and
is at the center of the Getty Museum.
As with all museums, there is a gift shop and coffee carts. The museum center also offers a restaurant with two cafes and a picnic area. If
you are looking to spend a nice free day in the LA area, bring your lunch and eat it at the picnic area after touring the free museum.
There has been a lot in the news lately about an ex museum curator at the Getty Museum named Marion True. Marion
was indicted in 2005 (in Italy) under the charges of trafficking stolen antiquities. There are many other famous
people in the art industry involved (not just the Getty Museum). Recently the Getty has returned numerous
pieces in dispute to Italy.
According to industry sources, the trafficking in artworks as the Getty has been named was a not unfamiliar act in the
art world.
Hopefully this will not put a tarnish on your visit as the Getty provides a spectacular setting for some beautiful and
famous artworks.