Significant milestones in The Broad's decade in LA, featuring an impending transformation revealed
The Broad Museum, located in downtown L.A. on Grand Avenue, opened its doors to the public on September 20, 2015, after an initial delay from late 2014. The museum, which aims to provide world-class art to the public for free, was the brainchild of billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad and his wife, Edythe. The Broads, who amassed more than 2,000 artworks, including pieces by Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol, aimed to make contemporary art accessible to a broader audience.
The museum features a diverse collection of contemporary art by artists such as Ed Ruscha, Robert Rauschenberg, Kara Walker, and Mark Bradford. One of the most popular installations at the museum since its opening has been Yayoi Kusama's 'Infinity Mirrored Room - the Souls of Millions of Light Years Away.'
The Broad has been a hub for special exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, and artist talks. In 2016, the museum's first special exhibition, 'Cindy Sherman: Imitation of Life,' charged an entry fee for the first time. The exhibition, which showcased the work of renowned photographer Cindy Sherman, was a commercial success, attracting thousands of visitors.
In 2018, the museum hosted 'Something Resembling Truth,' a survey of artist Jasper Johns. The following year, Japanese artist Takashi Murakami's immersive 'Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow' exhibit featured augmented reality experiences. Timed to the citywide Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA event in 2017, the museum commissioned Carlos Cruz-Diez to create an outdoor installation called 'Couleur Additive.'
The Broad has also been a platform for exhibitions highlighting the works of Black artists. In 2019, the exhibition 'Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983' celebrated over 60 groundbreaking Black artists. The museum kicked off the first major international tour of 'Mickalene Thomas: All About Love' in May 2024, an exhibition devoted to Black women. The exhibition featured works by Betye Saar, Noah Purifoy, Charles White, David Hammons, Roy DeCarava, and the AFRICOBRA collective, among others.
The museum has faced critiques about its unconventional design, long lines, and special exhibition pricing. However, the museum has temporarily crashed its online ticketing system due to high public demand, indicating a strong interest in its offerings.
The Broad Art Foundation, established by the Broads in 1984, loans artworks to institutions around the world. The museum's collection is also home to pieces on loan from the private collections of Spike Lee, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z.
In November 2023, the Broad museum will debut the largest-ever solo museum show of late artist Robert Therrien's work. The renovations will also afford guests a chance to access 'the vault,' the second-floor art storage space that has thus far only been visible through stairwell windows.
The museum is currently planning an expansion, expected to add 50,000 square feet to the museum and open in 2028 ahead of the Summer Olympic Games. The new design for the expansion, drawn up by the building's original architecture firm, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, comes with a $100 million price tag. The expansion will provide 70% more gallery space, top-floor outdoor courtyards, and live performance spaces.
The Broads' philanthropic efforts extended beyond the Broad museum. Eli Broad was a benefactor to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and he also played a significant role in the creation of both an art center at UCLA and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Eli Broad passed away in Los Angeles in 2021.
The museum has faced challenges, including a 14-month shutdown due to the pandemic and the layoff of 130 employees. Two former staffers also sued the Broad for alleged discrimination, which the museum denies. Despite these challenges, the museum has remained a vital part of the Los Angeles arts scene, attracting an estimated 6.7 million visitors since its opening.
