02/23/09

Noteworthy

by jwpraus

Nestled in the quaint section of Westwood, Los Angeles near the UCLA campus is this contempory museum the "Hammer". I enjoyed my experience here. I believe there was four different display areas with various art mediums. Rotating selections of paintings, architectural models, sculptures and video at the time that I visited. I was disappointed a bit in the lack of energy surrounding the museum, too little people and not much of a court yard cafe'. If I remember correctly there was validated parking. Hammer has obtained an impressive collection.

12/30/08

wonderful both inside and outside

by manoble

This smaller, less known museum holds a marvelous permanent collection and over the years had held some of the more interesting exhibitions I ever saw. I love the architecture of the building, and the lovely courtyard. Unlike most museum shops that offer very pretty but very pricy pretty things, the Hammer’s store has an impressively comprehensive collection of books.

11/26/07

Great small museum in the heart of Westwood

by jhoolko

I love the Hammer for its size, and because it's always free for UCLA students (it's free for everyone on Thursdays). I got hooked after their Societe Anonyme exhibition and have been going back ever since whenever I need a quick culture fix. The permanent collection houses some surprisingly impressive pieces, and the smaller size of the museum makes it a pleasantly manageable activity. There's always a great installation in the lobby, and one of my favorite parts of the whole place is the gift shop, which has a dazzling array of great books and beautiful gifts. They also play host to great speakers and the Billy Wilder Theatre shows a number of preview screenings and old classics. If parking's got you down, there's a lot about two blocks away on Broxton that allows two free hours of parking if you enter before 6:01 pm.

• Pros: Overall great experience!
• Cons: Probably parking

A tasteful oasis of art and culture amid Westwood's restaurants and retail shops.

by Contributor

In Short
Instead of donating his $400 million art collection to the county institution, oil baron Armand Hammer decided to establish the Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Culture in Westwood. (UCLA took over management in 1994.) The museum highlights rotating selections from Hammer's lot of largely impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. These include works by Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Gogh, plus sculpture and lithographs by Honore Daumier.

04/30/07

great for an outing in Westwood

by juju13es

Being a UCLA student, I wish I took more advantage of this museum (especially since we have free admission). I've only been there twice, once recently for the Hammer Contemporary Collection. Both times I visited, the exhibits were collections of contemporary pieces. I always check their website and their schedule, because they have interesting guest lectures (Hammer Conversations) with renown speakers...

• Pros: free admission for students, fascinating exhibits

08/07/06

Great location, good exhibits, lectures

by cutiekatie

The Hammer is great for UCLA students. Not the best museum in LA, but I've seen a few interesting lectures and some really great installation pieces here.

07/26/06

Great museum!

by cambird

Second to the Getty, this is my favorite L.A. museum, primarily because it's free for students. There are often great galleries, lectures (I saw Oliver Stone awhile back) and other events in the quaint courtyard. The permanent collection is impressive too. My suggestion: start your morning out here and then drift a few miles west to the Getty.

03/14/05

No hassles

by slhslh

I love visiting the UCLA Hammer Museum. It's doesn't have any of the long lines and parking hassle that sometimes happens at other LA museums. Instead, this place has world renowned art by top artists. The lecture and film series offer thought provoking topics that are again at low cost. The last time I went to the museum I had lunch in Westwood afterwards making for a perfect outing.

05/21/02

Great Exhibits

by ClaudineToo

Who woulda thought? A modern museum with innovative exhibits in the middle of Westwood. A great cultural fix for Westsiders. Though the permanent collection is nothing great, the curators pull together great exhibits of emerging artists.