On April 19, LACMA officially opened the David Geffen Galleries, marking this transformative moment for the museum and all of Los Angeles with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony. Elected officials, civic and cultural leaders, and prominent artists joined LACMA’s board of trustees at L.A.’s latest architectural icon to dedicate the museum’s new building, designed by world-renowned architect Peter Zumthor.

Also participating in the ceremony were Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, co-chair of LACMA’s board of trustees Willow Bay, and architect Peter Zumthor. Poet Megan Dorame and artist Mercedes Dorame gave a blessing with a Tongva song and a poem encouraging gratitude and care for the land, water, air, and non-human and human relatives.

Megan Dorame and Mercedes Dorame give a blessing during the David Geffen Galleries opening and ribbon cutting, photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

After the ribbon was cut, LACMA began welcoming visitors into the long-awaited David Geffen Galleries, the museum’s new home for its permanent collection. More than 12,000 members visited the new building in the first week of opening. 

LACMA staff Claudia Polanco, poet Megan Dorame, artist Mariana Castillo Deball, artist Sandy Rodriguez, LACMA senior deputy director Diana Magaloni, artist Mercedes Dorame, and artist Sarah Rosalena at the David Geffen Galleries opening and ribbon cutting, photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

Left: artists Shio Kusaka and Jonas Wood; right: LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director Michael Govan and artist Todd Gray at the David Geffen Galleries opening and ribbon cutting, photos by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

The opening day also marked the launch of Erewhon at LACMA, situated in the northeast pavilion on the W.M. Keck Plaza. 

Now through May 3, LACMA members have priority access to the David Geffen Galleries and invitations to special events. On May 3, LACMA will open the W.M. Keck Education Center on the plaza level of the David Geffen Galleries, marking the occasion by offering free museum access and a full day of events and activities for NexGenLA, a free youth membership program for L.A. County residents 17 years and younger. Beginning on May 4, general admission tickets will include access to the David Geffen Galleries.