Hammer Museum
Los Angeles Learn more about what's on at Hammer Museum and the artists shaping its programme.The Hammer Museum at UCLA is an art museum and cultural center in Westwood, Los Angeles, known for an artist-centred and progressive programme of exhibitions and public events. Founded in 1990 by Dr Armand Hammer to house his collection of Old Master and modern works, the museum now connects these historical holdings with a dynamic contemporary programme and research-driven initiatives. Located on Wilshire Boulevard near the UCLA campus, the Hammer forms part of the university’s School of the Arts and Architecture and serves both local communities and an international art public.
Art and Exhibitions
The Hammer’s exhibitions span historical to contemporary art, with a strong emphasis on work made since the 1960s and on emerging and under-recognised artists. Its collections combine the Armand Hammer Collection of 16th to 20th century European and American art with the Hammer Contemporary Collection of more than 2,000 works, as well as UCLA’s Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts and the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden. Signature programmes include Hammer Projects, a series of experimental contemporary presentations, and the biennial Made in L.A., which surveys artists working in and around Los Angeles and has become a key platform for the city’s contemporary scene.
The Hammer’s exhibition history includes several seminal projects that have shaped contemporary art discourse in Los Angeles and beyond. Major survey exhibitions such as Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990s (1992) and Helter Skelter II (2007) foregrounded Los Angeles–based artists and helped emphasise the city as a centre for experimental, conceptually driven practice. The recurring biennial Made in L.A., launched in 2012, has become a touchstone for contemporary art in Southern California and a key platform for showcasing emerging artists.
Among the museum’s most influential solo exhibitions are Lee Bontecou: A Retrospective (2003), which offered the first comprehensive U.S. survey of the sculptor’s work and toured to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and MoMA in New York, and Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles 1960–1980 (2011–12), centred on artists such as Betye Saar and David Hammons and later presented at MoMA PS1. More recent stand-out solo shows, including Andrea Fraser (2015) and Jimmie Durham: At the Center of the World (2017), have reinforced the Hammer’s reputation for research-intensive, artist-centred programming that often travels to other leading museums.
Public programmes and free admission
As a cultural centre, the Hammer presents a wide selection of free public programmes each year, from artist talks, lectures, and symposia to readings, film screenings, concerts, and family workshops. Admission to the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and public programmes is free for all visitors, reflecting its commitment to accessibility and to fostering civic dialogue around art and ideas. The museum’s courtyard, bookstore, and online Hammer Channel extend this experience, offering informal spaces and digital access to talks, performances, and artist profiles.
Hammer Museum FAQs
What is the Hammer Museum?
The Hammer Museum is an art museum and cultural center at UCLA in Westwood, Los Angeles, founded in 1990 by Dr Armand Hammer. It is known for its artist-centred, progressive exhibitions and extensive free public programmes that connect historical art with cutting-edge contemporary practice.
What kind of art does the Hammer Museum show?
The museum presents exhibitions and collections ranging from Old Master paintings and nineteenth-century works to contemporary art from the 1960s to today. Through the Hammer Contemporary Collection, Hammer Projects, and the Made in L.A. biennial, it particularly highlights emerging and under-recognised artists working in and around Los Angeles as well as international voices.
Is admission to the Hammer Museum free?
Yes. The Hammer Museum offers free admission to all exhibitions and public programmes, continuing a policy introduced in 2014 to make the museum “free for good.” Visitors may incur separate costs such as parking, but entry to galleries and events does not require a ticket fee.
Where is the Hammer Museum located and how do I visit?
The Hammer Museum is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, on the west side of Los Angeles near the UCLA campus. Current opening hours, holiday schedules, and information on parking or transit access are listed on the museum’s website and should be checked before planning a visit.
What is the Made in L.A. biennial?
Made in L.A. is the Hammer Museum’s recurring biennial exhibition devoted to artists working in the Los Angeles region, showcasing new and recent work across media. The exhibition has become one of the city’s most closely watched surveys of local practice, offering many artists their first major museum exposure.
Artworks by Hammer Museum Artists
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