Los Angeles has plenty of museums for aesthetically motivated travelers to explore. Within the bounds of LACMA you have the ancient La Brea Tar Pits and other permanent outdoor exhibits that you can browse for free. Downtown, The Broad Museum and MOCA are practically across the street from one another, making it easy to museum hop all day, only breaking to refuel at nearby Grand Central Market.
And for those occasions when you’re craving something different, or perhaps just some fun, insta-pressive pictures, there are always a handful of touring pop-up museums to visit. These are our favorites that are running from late summer throughout the Fall:
Second Home Serpentine Pavilion
Running from June 28 through November 24, Second Home Serpentine Pavilion is a temporary architectural creation by SelgasCano that you can find at the La Brea Tar Pits. It features rainbow tunnels with multiple entrances and exits and a utopian center area where maze-runners are bathed in stained glass light. Second Home Pavilion is hosting free public talks, film screenings, and other events throughout the duration of the show.
Flutter Experience
Running through November 30, the Flutter Experience was created in partnership with the Born This Way Foundation, which promotes mental health and youth engagement issues. Some proceeds from the Flutter Experience go towards their work in destigmatizing mental health. Inside, museum-level artists have transformed different rooms into their personal playgrounds, with interactive activities like painting, virtual reality, dancing, and more.
Louis Vuitton X
Located at the Louis Vuitton store on Rodeo Drive, Louis Vuitton X is an immersive journey through the fashion house’s 160-year history. Luxury-obsessed travelers will love browsing through over 180 items from Louis Vuitton’s archives and shopping the 2nd floor pop-up for exclusive buys. The exhibition is running from June 28 to November 17.
Museum of Dream Space
Touting the title of the first digital art museum in the US, the Museum of Dream Space (or MODS, as it’s often shortened to) is inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s work, the artist of the famous infinity rooms. You can find the exhibit at the Beverly Center, making it a convenient stop if you’d like to get some shopping done before or afterward.
Museum of Weed
Presented by Weedmaps, Museum of Weed is an immersive experience that takes participants (18 and older) through the history of cannabis, including the victories as well as the devastating effects of the war on drugs. It features interactive art installations, artifacts, a Plant Lab, as well as a full cafeteria, gift shop, snack/coffee bar, plus a vibey lounge to relax in. Don’t wait on this exhibit, it leaves LA on September 29.
Hello Kitty Friends Around the World Tour
Sanrio is taking Hello Kitty and friends on a worldwide adventure in celebration of Hello Kitty’s 45th Anniversary. Their month-long Los Angeles sojourn begins on September 20 and includes a 10,000 square foot fully immersive, multi-sensory, walk-through pop-up that transports guests into Hello Kitty’s adorable world.