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Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

ArtClosed todayFreeL Line (Gold) – Little Tokyo/Arts District (about 1.2 miles / 20-25 min walk)

ICA LA is an independent, non-collecting contemporary art museum in Downtown Los Angeles's Arts District. Founded in 1984 as the Santa Monica Museum of Art, it relocated and rebranded in 2017 into a renovated 12,700-square-foot industrial building designed by wHY Architecture. The museum mounts rotating exhibitions of emerging, local, and international artists rather than holding a permanent collection, with a mission centered on discovery and dismantling hierarchies of race, class, gender, and culture. Admission is always free.

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Plan Your Visit

Getting there

1717 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Nearest station: L Line (Gold) – Little Tokyo/Arts District (about 1.2 miles / 20-25 min walk), Metro Bus 60, 62, 720 (7th/Decatur), Metro Bus 16, 18, 53, 62, 720 (6th/Central)

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Hours

Closed until 25 September

Closed for installation

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed11:00–19:00
Thu11:00–19:00
FriToday11:00–19:00
Sat11:00–18:00
Sun11:00–18:00

Admission

Free

Nearby

Visitor Information

Is Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is free. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles?
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is open Wed-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm, closed Mon-Tue and public holidays. Free admission always. Note: the museum is closed for installation until it reopens with new exhibitions and an Open House on Sat Sept 26, 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles?
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is located at 1717 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021, in the Arts District area of Los Angeles. The nearest stations are L Line (Gold) – Little Tokyo/Arts District (about 1.2 miles / 20-25 min walk), Metro Bus 60, 62, 720 (7th/Decatur), Metro Bus 16, 18, 53, 62, 720 (6th/Central).
What can I see at Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles?
Free non-collecting kunsthalle in the Arts District spotlighting emerging and overlooked contemporary artists. Current highlights include Carl Cheng: Nature Never Loses, Amia Yokoyama: Our Strange Hollows, Zoe Walsh: Gathering.
Do I need to book Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles in advance?
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is free to enter and most days you can walk in. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.